8:55 Welcome and Introductions
9:00 NuShield Certified Medicare Set-Aside Program
Barbara Fairchild, NuQuest, Longwood, FL
Robert Sagrillo, NuQuest, Longwood, FL
In an examination of options for consideration of Medicare's interests in a workers' compensation settlement, this session reviews the Medicare Secondary Payer statute, regulations and the Workers' Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) Reference Guide published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It focuses on opting out of the voluntary CMS submission process with the use of evidence-based medicine allocations and introduces NuQuest's NuShield MSA as an evidence-based, comprehensive approach to that consideration pre- and post-settlement.
10:00 Break
10:10 Case Law Update
Heather T. Baker, Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLP, Raleigh
Bruce A. Hamilton, Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLP, Raleigh
Review vital appellate decisions impacting attorneys who handle workers' compensation claims in North Carolina and discuss the practical implications of those decisions on the day-to-day handling of claims.
11:10 Break
11:20 Substance Abuse†
James L. "Jim" Blackburn, Jim Blackburn Seminars, Raleigh#
Jim Blackburn speaks on substance abuse/mental health.
#In 1993, James Blackburn turned in his license to practice law, and the State Bar subsequently issued a letter of disbarment.
12:20 Lunch Break
12:50 How To Evaluate Non-Submit Medicare Set-Asides (MSA)
Annemarie Pantazis, Wilder Pantazis Law Group, Charlotte
Develop an understanding of what a non-submit or evidence-based MSA is and the vendors behind them. Hear about the views of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on MSAs, the logistics and cost of submitting an MSA, on-submit risks to both the plaintiff and the plaintiff's attorney of agreeing to non-submit MSA, and what remedy the plaintiff has if Medicare refuses to pay for treatment.
1:20 Break
1:30 Should You Become a Workers' Compensation Specialist?
Daniel C. "Dan" Pope Jr., Wilson Ratledge PLLC, Raleigh
Analyze what it means to be a certified workers' compensation specialist and why you may want to become a specialist. Determine if you're eligible to become a certified specialist, what steps to take — including the specialization exam — and the timeline for becoming a specialist in 2021.
2:00 Break
2:10 CBD Products and Pain Management
James Taylor, M.D., Carolina Medical Investments LLC, Southern Pines
Learn the differences between hemp and marijuana and how your clients can use CBD products to help with pain management. Discuss the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and the future obstacles and opportunities in the CBD pain-management industry.
3:10 Break
3:20 Case Management Challenges During a Pandemic
Vicki Hewitt-McNeil, North Carolina Industrial Commission, Raleigh
Explore how case managers are meeting with injured workers and physicians while maintaining social distancing. Review maintaining confidentiality of injured workers and case managers' COVID-19 status, the impacts of telehealth on case management, and effective communication with all parties.
3:50 Break
4:00 Non-insured and Fines
Mary Grace Roberson Linthicum, North Carolina Department of Justice, Raleigh
Delve into the different dockets — penalty dockets, non-insured dockets and contempt dockets — and their role in workers' compensation claims. Discuss the calculation of the alternate penalty, agricultural exemption and how to determine if the new or former N.C.G.S. § 97-94(b) applies to your case.
4:30 Adjourn
†Indicates portion providing Substance Abuse/Mental Health credit