2022 Annual Conference Agenda

31th Anniversary Annual Meeting 
& Workers’ Compensation Conference
Golden Nugget, Lake Charles, LA
November 7-9, 2022
Agenda Worksheet

 
Monday, November 7th
 
TIME TOPIC SPEAKER
10:00 - 11:00 AM Ethics  
11:00 am - 12:00 PM Professionalism – Shayna Sonnier, Hunter, Hunter, Sonnier Shayna Sonnier
11:00 AM Registration  
1:00 -1:15 PM President's Welcome  
1:15 - 2:30 PM Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
LASIE is inviting all 2023 gubernatorial candidates to speak at this year’s conference.  LASIE is developing a comp reform package for the 2024 regular session and our goal is to work with all candidates to get them actively engaged.  We want the next Governor to be a champion for workers’ compensation reform.  Wayne Fontana, Roedel Parsons, Louisiana Senator Sharon Hewitt, Louisiana Representative Richard Nelson, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (invited)
Sen. Sharon Hewitt
Rep Richard Nelson
AG Jeff Landry,
(invited)
2:30 - 3:00 PM Break  
3:00 - 4:30 PM Louisiana Legislative Panel – This panel will consist of business owner legislators that understand the high cost of workers’ compensation.  This diverse penal will discuss their experience along with what it takes to successfully navigate a reform package through the legislature. Representative Larry Frieman, Senator Heather Cloud, Representative Michael Echols, Senator Mike Reese, 
Representative Jack McFarland, Representative Philip Deviller, Senator Patrick McMath, Representative Blake Miquez, Representative Phillip Tarver
Rep. Larry Frieman
Sen. Heather Cloud
Rep. Michael Echols
Sen, Mike Reese
Rep. Jack McFarland, 
Rep.  Philip Devillier,
Sen. Patrick McMath
Rep. Blake Miguez
Rep. Phillip Tarver
4:30 - 5:30 PM Leadership Summit - The Great Resignation –Born of the COVID pandemic, Louisiana workers have joined others across the nation in quitting their jobs.  244,000 Louisiana workers have left their employment.  Every LASIE member has job openings that they can’t fill.  Our speakers will discuss how we meet the demand for our workforce and traverse the new work landscape. Patrick Robinson, VP, Governmental Affairs, ODG, Richie LeBlanc, President & CEO, Hunt Forest Products, Greg Hennagin, General Manager, Golden Nugget Casino Hotel, Scott Friedlander, Human Resources Manager, Danos Patrick Robinson
Richie LeBlanc
Greg Hennagin
Scott Friedlander
5:30 PM Adjournment  
6:00 - 7:00 PM Welcome Reception  
7:00 - 9:00 PM Casino Night Screen Party  

Tuesday, November 8th
 
TIME TOPIC SPEAKERS
7:45 - 8:15 AM Breakfast  
8:15 - 8:30 AM Conference Opening  
8:30 - 9:30 AM Common Elements of Successful State Reforms - 
Our panel of address successful state workers’ compensation reforms over the past two decades. The panel will discuss the common elements of each state reform that not only lowered operating costs but created a more balanced administrative system for all stakeholders. Rod Bordelon, Principal, Law Offices of Rod Bordelon Brian Allen, Leadership Team, Optimized Outcome Solutions, Rosalie Faris, President & CEO, Occupational Managed Care Alliance, Andrew Sabolic, Executive Director, Worker’s Compensation Institute
Rod Bordelon
Brian Allen
Andrew Sabolic
Rosalie Faris
9:30 - 10:00 AM Break  
10:00 - 11:00 AM The Players in the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Adjudication System – (Judges).  What are the key issues that make the Louisiana Comp System different than our neighbors?  Why do LASIE members have higher  litigation costs than their other operating states?  Our panel will discuss opportunities that could help our system reduce litigation and promote faster return to work.   Matthew Tierney, Partner, Tierney & Smiley, Patrick Robinson, VP, Governmental Affairs, ODG, Eric Waltner, Partner, Allen & Gooch Matt Tierney, 
Patrick Robinson
Eric Waltner
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Legal Fee Decision Making – It is discouraging to say the least when a company has to make the decision to settle a case when they believe they shouldn’t because the cost of legal fees outweigh the cost of settlement.  Our panel will discuss the cost benefit analysis in a company’s decision- making process and what they may do differently to have a more palatable outcome.  Candy Gerace, Human Resource Director, Hunt Forest Products, Alicia Edens, Case Manager, CoreCare Management, Trent Oubre, Partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson Trent Oubre
Candy Gerace
Alicia Edens
12:00 - 1:00 PM LUNCH  
1:00 - 2:00 PM Interdisciplinary Treatment Approach for Chronic Pain Management - Chronic pain is a significant and costly problem all over the world. Despite significant progress in identifying the best treatment approaches, there are still significant obstacles that must be overcome in order for the treatment to be truly beneficial. There is evidence to support the cost-effectiveness of interdisciplinary treatment programs for patients with chronic pain.  Our panel will discuss the steps to create an effective model. Kevin Bianchini, PhD, ABPN, Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group, Marc Cavallino, Managing Partner, ISR Physical Therapy, John Kocke, President, CoreCare Management Kevin Bianchini PhD
Marc Cavallino, PT,
John Kocke
2:00 - 3:00 PM Putting the Injured Worker First – What is gained when an employer focuses on the needs of the injured worker?  What are the benefits to all parties? Clair Muselman, VP of Workers’ Compensation, North American Risk Services Clair Muselman, PhD
3:00 - 3:30 PM Break  
3:30 - 5:30 PM Claims 101 - Soft Skills Dealing with the Injured Employee –What are the initial critical steps that help determine what type of claim employers’ end up dealing with?  What are the best practices to prevent the claim from going off-track at the outset?  Our panel will discuss the keys for employers - vendor management, policy and good communication will steer the claim through calm waters.  Bekka Rathcke, Case Management Manager, CorVel Bekka Rathcke, Case Management Manager, Corvel
5:30 PM Adjournment  
6:00 - 7:00 PM Reception  

Wednesday, November 9th
 
TIME TOPIC SPEAKER
7:45 - 8:15 AM Breakfast  
8:15 - 9:15 AM The Patient is the Wild Card!  Does anyone doubt that in the world of workers’ compensation care, the most difficult area to control is patient behavior.  Most injured workers are naïve to the role they should play in their own recovery and how important that role is in optimizing their outcome.  They want to get better, they just don’t know how.  The session will focus on patient education centered on the four pillars of recovery – Mindset, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Rest.  The session will also examine results from the program pilot conducted over the last year, demonstrating the value of patient education in recovery outcomes. Helping patients get better faster and stay better longer.  Brian Allen, Leadership Team, Optimized Outcome Solutions Brian Allen
9:15 - 10:15 AM Provider Cooperation – Some medical providers are reticent or even adversarial to release an injured worker back to work.  Our panel will discuss what should happen when an injured worker has reached MMI - all players on the team should be on the same page to help the employee resume their life.  Alan Yacoubian, Partner, Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse, Douglas Lurie, MD, Orthopaedic Associates of New Orleans, Trang Nguyen, MD, MedicusRx Alan Yacoubian 
Douglas Lurie, MD
Trang Nguyen, MD, PhD
10:15 - 11:15 AM Closing Ceremony