It’s good to be back in Chicago.
The ‘comp conference’, the shortened title given to LRP Productions’ annual National Workers Comp and Disability Conference, has recently been exiled to, of all places, Las Vegas. (Does anyone else see the slightest bit of irony in a risk management conference convening in the gambling capital of the nation?) Fortunately for wanna-attendees this year’s show is in Chicago (a city I like a while lot more than Vegas), a burg less likely to get the thumbs-down from corporate travel execs than Sin City.
I digress.
Here in random order are impressions from day one.
I’m impressed with the amount and variety of innovative approaches to old problems in evidence on the exhibit floor. That’s not to say that all are promising or even potentially useful but the level of effort is impressive.
For example, Coventry is actually talking about small networks. I know, I know, they’ve been talking about small networks for years but word is they may actually be doing something. More on that next week.
PMSI’s work on upgrading and strengthening their clinical programs, while not complete, is already bearing fruit. Look for more from this once-dormant PBM as it continues to invest in staff, systems, and technology.
Medata is promoting their proprietary UCR database, Tally. Unlike other UCR databases, Tally has not been successfully challenged in court. For payers concerned about litigation, this may well be a viable alternative.
Broadspire is reportedly working on new approaches to triage and early case management, building off their eTriage application/utility. This is not a standalone effort, but part of a larger initiative to revamp their approach to, and capabilities in, managed care.
Among other impressions – there are more private equity/venture capital types in attendance than in any other recent year. As I’ve indicated in earlier posts, activity has been heating up significantly of late, with the FairPay deal just the most recent.
And finally, there’s actually a Pet Insurance company exhibiting. Why, I don’t know. What pet insurance has to do with work comp or disability is not readily apparent.
Anybody have any ideas?
Nov
18
Joe,
Pet health insurance is an increasing popular voluntary employee benefit. As you know, the National Workers Compensation and Disability Conference and Expo attracts HR decision makers from all types of government departments and private companies–rich prospects for VPI’s employee benefits program.
To HR professionals who have an employee population of 100 or more, we can provide VPI Pet Insurance as a voluntary benefit at no cost to the employer. The employee wins because they get a group discount and the employer wins because they are providing access to a voluntary benefit, showing they care about the welfare of their workers.
Best Regards,
Ken Stallings
Director of Group Account Sales
Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.
I too attended the Workers’ Comp Conference and found a lot of new approaches to old problems. The atmosphere was very upbeat and outlook sunny for next year.
I was specifically looking for two critical areas of improvement. First, a defensible bill review program that brings effective R&C rules to the table. Second, the burden of paper EOB’s for processing payments is a big problem so I was looking for outsourcing cures and or opportunities.
I agree with your assesment of Chicago versus Las Vegas. It’s tough to justify that you are attending a serious conference on cost cutting when attending a meeting in Vegas. Night and day.
Kent McRee
President/CEO
RKM Enterprises, Inc.