Breakfast

Session 1 - AI in Claims: Empowering People, Not Replacing Them

• Speakers:

• Patty Reinecke, Midwest Employers Casualty Company

• Matthew Yehling, Midwest Employers Casualty Company

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping work comp claims, not by replacing professionals, but by empowering them. This session explores how AI tools are being integrated into claims management to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and free up time for higher-value work. Uncover real-world applications such as predictive analytics, fraud detection, and document triage, while addressing common concerns about automation. The discussion reinforces the continued importance of empathy, negotiation, and strategic judgment, and shows how claims professionals can confidently position AI as a partner rather than a competitor.

Session 1 - Critical Moments: Managing Complex and Catastrophic Claims From Incident Through Resolution

• Speakers:

• Melissa Blatt, Encova Insurance

• Katie Grove, McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC (MGC)

• Kevin Korte, Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company

Highly complex and catastrophic work comp claims demand fast decision-making, coordinated strategy, and disciplined litigation management. Let's explores best practices for navigating high-exposure claims from the moment of injury through final resolution with topics that include early intervention, assessing medical severity, managing escalating costs, and aligning stakeholders around a clear claim strategy. The discussion also will address litigation considerations such as counsel selection, discovery control, risk mitigation, and preparation for trial or settlement.

Session 1 - Leading With Heart and Empathy: Why AI Cannot Replace the Human Connection in Work Comp

• Speakers:

• Heather Gardner, YesCare

• Jonathan G. Wilson, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP

As technology and automation continue to advance, the human connection remains central to successful work comp outcomes. Panelists will examine how claims and risk professionals can balance innovation with empathy by maintaining a people-first approach. Through real-world examples such as first-day calls, compassionate check-ins, and emotionally intelligent communication, attendees will learn how empathy-driven leadership reduces litigation, expedites recovery, and strengthens organizational culture. All roundtable participants will leave with actionable strategies for embedding compassion into technologically advanced claims operations without sacrificing efficiency or compliance.

Session 1 - The Medicare Makeover: From Meh to Must Know

• Speakers:

• Rosemarie Arellano, Markel Group, Inc.

• Rafael Gonzalez, Cattie & Gonzalez

• Lindsay Huffman, Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company

• Kirsten Kaiser Kus, Downey & Lenkov LLC

Navigating Medicare compliance can feel daunting, but it is essential to durable claim resolution. Examine the operational and tactical challenges of Medicare compliance, with a focus on recent regulatory developments and best practices, while also learning strategies for protecting Medicare’s interests while minimizing double-damage exposure and avoiding settlement delays. The discussion will offer practical guidance for stregthening compliance workflows and outcomes.

Break

Session 2 - Beyond Thresholds: CMS’s 2025 Medicare Set-Aside Reporting Requirements

• Speakers:

• Andy Condrey, The Gray Insurance Company

• Brendon De Souza, Sanderson Firm PLLC

• Jared Renfroe, Spicer Rudstrom, PLLC

• Jeff Stinson, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP

CMS issued a technical alert in February 2024 announcing a significant expansion to Section 111 Total Payment Obligation to Claimant reporting for work comp claims involving Medicare beneficiaries. Effective April 4, 2025, Responsible Reporting Entities must report Work Comp Medicare Set-Aside information for all settlements involving Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of settlement amount or CMS submission status. The experts in this session will break down what has changed, the new data elements to be collected, and the impact on coordination of benefits. Attendees will gain practical insight into compliance challenges, increased data sharing, and the evolving treatment of non-submit WCMSAs, including developments in Tennessee.

Session 2 - Home Invasion: Medical Products Move In

• Speakers:

• Kevin Ong, Exponent

The rise in home-based healthcare is fueled in part by the aging population, increased adoption of telehealth, shift in care models and reimbursement structures, and advances in medical technology.  The FDA has also developed a Home as a Health Care Hub initiative in 2024 to help foster medical device innovation for use in the home. The panel will discuss what types of devices are most commonly used in the home setting, along with the potential sources of risks, such as usability challenges, that may arise from potentially placing medical technology in the hands of the patients and/or caregivers. As the types of devices may start to blur between medical products and consumer/non-prescription, over-the-counter products, this session will also discuss the corresponding regulatory implications, as well as the roles of human factors and testing in product evaluation. Tips on how to assess the risk profile of different categories of products will also be covered.

Session 2 - The Changing Workplace: Gig Economy, Staffing Agencies and Joint Employment

• Speakers:

• Michael Barratt, Vernis and Bowling

The modern workforce is increasingly shaped by staffing agency placements and joint employment arrangements, creating new challenges for work comp stakeholders when determining coverage, employer liability, and defensible claim strategies. Drawing on cross-industry perspectives, this session explores how to navigate these complexities through discussion of current legal trends, key cases, and real-world scenarios involving employment status investigations. Walk away with practical approaches for identifying the responsible employer, reducing litigation exposure, and strengthening claim decision-making in today’s evolving workplace.

Session 2 - The New Toolbox: What AI and Emerging Tech Really Mean for Claims Professionals

• Speakers:

• Erick Enriquez, InQuery

• Bridgette Ferraro, iCopy Legal

• Jeffrey Sickles, Broadspire

The conversation around AI and emerging technology can feel overwhelming and disconnected from day-to-day claims work. This roundtable cuts through the noise to focus on what is actually working, what is overhyped, and what is coming next. You will explore how tools such as automation, machine learning, and decision-support systems are reshaping workflows, litigation strategy, and outcomes, while reinforcing where professional judgment remains essential. Panelists plan to offer a grounded, practical perspective on using technology to accelerate better results without sacrificing trust or transparency.

Lunch

Session 3 - Catastrophic Work Comp Injuries: Driving Immediate ROI Through Medical and Disability Management

Session 3 - Don’t Let Unrestrained Medical Derail Your Workers Compensation Claims Handling

• Speakers:

• Douglas Gibb , Athens Administrators

• Robert Hanneman, Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby LLP

• Vanessa Mendelewski, Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby LLP

Uncontrolled medical treatment can quickly derail even well-managed claims. This session helps claims professionals understand the differences between minimally invasive, non-operative procedures and surgical interventions for cervical and lumbar spine injuries. The discussion focuses on anticipating outcomes, supporting return to work, and avoiding unnecessary or runaway treatment that drives up claim costs.

Session 3 - How AI is Transforming the Workers Compensation Field

• Speakers:

• Connor Atchison, Wisedocs USA, Inc.

• Mark Tainton, Wisedocs USA, Inc.

Session 3 - We See You: How Employee Engagement Enhances Work Comp Outcomes

• Speakers:

• Veronica DeMarest, H&K Group

• Jennifer Johns, Reimagined Parking, Inc.

• Liz Millette, Gilbane Building Company

• A. Judd Woytek, Marshall Dennehey

Employees who feel seen, valued, and engaged are more likely to experience better work comp outcomes. Join us to explore the connection between employee engagement, faster recovery, and reduced claim costs. Panelists will discuss common engagement challenges, including balancing communication with legal obligations, and share practical strategies for building trust while mitigating risk. Walk away with tools to improve communication, strengthen relationships, and foster a more collaborative culture among employees, employers, and claims professionals.

Break

Session 4 - Applying the C.A.Re. Model to Transform Workers Compensation Outcomes

• Speakers:

• Brad Gronke, Self Employed

• James M. Poerio, Poerio & Walter, Inc.

• Rachel Rodriguez, Chubb

Claims professionals face increasing pressure to improve outcomes while managing compliance, rising medical costs, and workforce expectations. Panelists will introduce the C.A.Re. Model -- Communication, Alignment, and Resolution -- as a structured, human-centered framework for claims handling. Attendees will explore how purposeful communication builds trust, alignment reduces friction among stakeholders, and early resolution strategies decrease costs and cycle time. Real-world examples demonstrate how organizations are successfully applying the model to improve satisfaction and results.

Session 4 - Comorbid Complications: How Pre-Existing Conditions Impact Claims

• Speakers:

• Theresa Masanz, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

• Leslie Rodgers, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

• Christine Westberg Dorn, Mooney, Lenaghan, Westberg, Dorn, L.L.C

Pre-existing conditions can complicate work comp claims by muddying causation analysis, extending recovery timelines, delaying return to work, and increasing overall costs. The team of panelists will identify common comorbid conditions and explain how they influence claim severity and duration. Prepare to learn proven strategies for recognizing, managing, and mitigating the impact of these conditions, helping claims professionals navigate complex medical scenarios more effectively.

Session 4 - Preparing for Work Comp Mediation Through the Lens of the MSP Act

• Speakers:

• James Anderson, Cattie & Gonzalez

• Roxanne Case, Wells, Marble & Hurst, PLLC

• Brandon Moore, Ascot Group

Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance is critical to achieving durable workers compensation settlements at mediation. This session explains why settlements often fail when MSP requirements are not fully understood or addressed in advance. Tackle the three MSP pillars -- Medicare liens and conditional payments, Section 111 reporting, and Medicare’s interests, including WCMSAs -- and how each affects negotiation strategy. The discussion also will cover lien resolution, reporting obligations, and pre-mediation preparation steps that influence settlement allocation and risk management.

Networking Reception