Okay, now to a few last words.
As one more interested in workers comp than other topics, I found the agenda to be pretty thin. With a couple exceptions (CMS and reform), the topics weren’t timely, the subjects pretty basic, and the number of sessions devoted to comp few in number. The session re the impact of health reform on comp was led by Liberty’s Sam Geraci; his presentation provided an excellent brief on the mechanics and functions of health reform and paid particular attention to the potential issues with access to medical providers inherent in providing coverage to 32 million more Americans.
I would have liked to see several issues addressed: market trends (hard, soft, or what); what’s happening with comp reform in key states; actuarial views of cost drivers (can you spell o-p-i-o-i-d-s?); state of the excess/reinsurance market; frequency v severity, what’s happening and why; will the option to opt-out spread beyond Texas and perhaps Oklahoma and why. Perhaps next year…
With attendance up, a seemingly-endless list of exhibitors, dozens of social events (several at great venues), and the location in downtown Philly, there was plenty to do. While I may be biased, the MedRisk event at the WaterWorks was spectacular. 400+ people, terrific band, tasty food, fireworks, great views of Boathouse Row, an after-party replete with scotch tasting and excellent cigars, and – to cap it all off, I got to ride back to the hotel with Mark Farrell and…(wait for it)…David Young, President of Coventry Workers Comp. And lived to blog the tale.
So far…
Apr
20
RIMS never has much on Workers’ Comp. I sent in five sessions this year, and the only one that got accepted was the non-WC session.
One of their WC sessions this year was an intro to WC. It drew pretty well.
I was brought in to moderate a great session on settlement of WC claims on Monday, and it was a packed house. Clearly there is interest in WC at RIMS, but the conference planners try to be all things to all people, so they go for a wide variety of sessions, some of which have very limited appeal.
Timely topics is always a problem when conferences do RFP’s 10 months in advance. But that’s what most of the big conferences do because of their logistics.
If you want good workers’ comp content, go the National WC Conference in Vegas. Yeah, I’m biased because I’m a chair, but I think the program this year is going to be pretty good.