ICT Workers’ Comp Seminars Set for Austin and Dallas
The Insurance Council of Texas announced it will present its 2005 Workers’ Compensation Seminars in Austin on Nov. 10 and in Dallas on Nov. 15.
Brian C. Newby, Gov. Rick Perry’s general counsel will be the seminar keynote speaker at the Austin seminar, while Texas Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Albert Betts, Jr., will serve as the keynote speaker at the Dallas seminar.
The Austin seminar will be held at the Omni Austin Hotel Southpark, 4140 Governors Row.
The Dallas seminar will take place at the Crowne Plaza Suites, 7800 Alpha Road.
Each seminar gets underway at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast.
Persons interested in registering for the seminar may do so online at http://www.insurancecouncil.org/WorkersComp/WCSemSym.asp.
Shannon Phillips Meroney, a senior attorney with Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons, will get each conference underway with an overview of the workers’ compensation legislation passed during the 79th Texas Legislature.
Her remarks will be followed by a presentation by Jane Stone, a veteran insurance defense attorney and senior partner with the Austin law firm of Stone Loughlin & Swanson. Stone will discuss the new medical dispute resolution process and what can be expected at a district court hearing when an informal review organization or agency dispute resolution decision is appealed.
Julie Shank, R.N. of JShank Consulting and a recognized authority on the workers’ compensation system, will discuss the role of healthcare networks in Texas and the soon to be adopted workers’ compensation network rules.
Catherine Benavidez, president of Injury Management Organization, will explain the new role of case management in the workers’ compensation system.
The afternoon session will begin with a presentation by Richard “Jake” Jacobsmeyer, a partner with Adelson Testan Brundo & Popalardoof, about California’s experience with workers’ compensation healthcare networks and the lessons Texans can learn from the California experience.
Shank will return to discuss medical benefits, treatment guidelines and disability issues in the new Texas workers’ compensation system.
Stuart Colburn, an attorney with Downs Stanford, P.C. will give an overview of significant court decisions and their impact on the administration and the handling of workers’ compensation claims.
The seminar will conclude with a discussion by Robert Graves, Jr., an attorney with Burns Anderson Jury & Brenner, L.L.P discussing the impact of reform legislation on the resolution of indemnity disputes. He will also discuss changes made to the indemnity dispute resolution and designated doctor processes.