WCRI 2025 Conference Thursday Morning Sessions
I will try to post this using some of the slides and text. The first presentation for the WCRI 2025 Conference Thursday morning covered the US Healthcare System very thoroughly and was very slide-driven along with a longer Q&A Session. All slides in the first presentation are copyrighted by Dr. Chen and Stanford University.
Dr. Chen’s presentation had no political leanings. His keynote presentation was great. I included many of his slides as they were in-depth and descriptive.
WCRI 2025 Conference Thursday Morning Second Session
Changes in the Medical Workforce
Presenters –
Dr. Bogdan Savych and Dr. Olesya Fomenko
Both of WCRI –
I had written on this study last month. As usual Dr. Savych and Dr. Fomenko presented their study on the changing medical practitioner landscape well. See my article here on their top-notch study.
WCRI 2025 Conference Thursday Morning Third Session
Impact of Comorbid Considerations
Donchung Wang and Dr. Randall Lea, both from WCRI
Due to the sensitive data being preliminary in scope, no charts were provided that could be published.
WCRI 2025 Conference Thursday Sessions – Afternoon – First Session
Current Events in the California Workers Compensation System
Presenter – Alex Swedlow – California Workers Compensation Institute (CWCI)
I have attended many conferences where Alex presented great California-only information. As I have said many times, what happens in the CA Worker Comp system heads east to other states.
CWCI and Alex reserve their copyrights on all of the below charts.
The one chart that stood out to me was the opioid chart. I think California as with the rest of the US workers comp system has a handle on opioids.
WCRI 2025 Conference Thursday Sessions – Afternoon – Second Session
The unique info presented by Dr. Franklin centered around pre-injury opioid use as a precursor to complications once opioids have been prescribed in a WC claim – interesting angle.
WCRI 2025 Conference Thursday Sessions – Afternoon – Panel Session
Regulatory Panel – Responding to Today’s Challenges
Moderator – Kathy Fisher, WCRI
Marianne Saylor, Director, Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation = PA
Clarissa Rodríguez, Esq. NYS Workers’ Compensation Board Chair & Commissioner = NY
Medical Care Accessibility?
AZ – one medical appointment with the physician of choice, all types of medical practitioners even faith healers
PA- allows the claimant’s attorney 20% of meds.
NY – allows claimant choice of medical treatment, pays medical practitioners higher fees, denied claims can be treated under health insurance, medical-only claims can be paid for up to a year before denial.
Primary Focus
PA – Uninsured employer guaranty fund, larger assessments, paying medical bills
AZ – More accessibility to the WC system, ombudsperson, claimants that represent themselves – increasing access to system knowledge resources, attorneys’ representation on medical-only claims
Pharmaceuticals
PA- cannot use Redbook to settle prescription claims
NY – notice to injured workers that if there is a prescription dispute, can go out of network
AZ – travel and translation services
Federal change impacts
NY – remains to be seen
PA – getting employers into Certified Safety Programs
AZ – many programs are dependent upon Federal regs, OSHA would suffer, and DOGE would increase unemployment which is a mostly state-funded program.
