2015 Summer Newsletter - Alabama Self Insurer`s Association (ASIA)

VOLUME 2
SUMMER 2015
ASIA Objectives
ASIA is committed to a workers’ compensation
program that:
• Adequately compensates the
employee with a work-related injury
• Recognizes fair limitations on
employer responsibility
• Provides for an appropriate
distribution of the compensation dollar
• Reduces litigation
• Is dedicated to eliminating abuses within the
system
SUMMER
CONFERENCE
AUGUST 9–11, 2015
• Operates within the bounds of
reasonable and necessary regulations
ASIA Summer
Conference
August 9-11, 2015
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa
Destin, Florida
ASIA Winter Workshop
February 4-5, 2016
Sheraton Birmingham Hotel
Birmingham, Alabama
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
A Word from the President. . . . . . . . . . 2
Idiopathic Defense.............................3
Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa • Destin, Florida •
New ASIA Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
— Page 1 —
Alabama Self-Insurers
Association
OFFICERS
President
Doug Kitchens, Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, Inc.
Vice President
Connie Cox, Drummond Company, Inc.
Secretary
Vann Wilhite, Jim Walter Resources
Treasurer
Randal H. Ward, CAE, Automotive
Aftermarket Fund
Past President
Charles Hough, Alabama Self Insurers
Guaranty Association
Executive Director
Charles F. Carr, Carr Allison
DIRECTORS
Chris Alexander, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Rick Brown, CAE, Alabama Retail Comp
Stewart Civils, Vulcan Materials Company
Toi Corbett, Alabama Power
Connie Cox, Drummond Company, Inc.
Carol Davis, Mercedes Benz US International
Charles Hough, Alabama Self Insurers
Guaranty Association
Allane Hybart, Infirmary Health System
Don Jones, AGC Construction Industry Services, Inc.
Boyd Kelly, ForestFund
Doug Kitchens, Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, Inc.
Marion McQueen, Director Emeritus, Program Director
Anna Scott, AAA Cooper Transportation
John Smitherman, Brentwood Services Administrators,
Inc.
Randal Ward, Automotive Aftermarket Association
Vann Wilhite, Jim Walter Resources
Steve Yount, AmTrust North America
The Alabama Self-Insurers Association
is professionally managed by
Group Management Services, LLC
The Alabama Self-Insurer is a quarterly publication
of the Alabama Self-Insurers Association:
Post Office Box 240757 • Montgomery, AL 36124-0757
(800) 366-3439 • Fax (334) 272-7128
E-mail: asia@gmsal.com
www.asiaal.org
A Word from the President...
Doug Kitchens
O
n behalf of the ASIA Board
of Directors, I want to say
GREETINGS to each of you
and extend yet one more invitation
to attend our upcoming Summer
Conference. Most who receive this
publication will likely have already
registered and booked their hotel
reservations but for those who have
procrastinated, now is the time
to act. The summer conference is
always one of the largest and best
functions of our industry. This year
promises to be even more impressive. We will present a split track of
workers compensation topics as well
as employment related topics for the HR professionals. We will hold
the first annual Scottie Spates Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday,
August 8, 2015 at Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club.
When I wrote for our last newsletter, I referenced excitement to be ending the cold and wet winter season that we had all experience. Well, as
always, we must be careful what we ask for because as I am writing today,
we are experiencing a few days of heat advisory. As we say in Alabama,
“if ya don’t like the weather, wait 30 minutes”.
I want to take this opportunity to openly express my appreciation to
our membership for allowing me to serve as your President the past two
years. My term will come to an end at the close of our Summer Conference but my work with ASIA is far from over. I consider it an honor to
serve on the board and I am hopeful that I have “done you proud” in my
efforts. During my term, I have experienced many opportunities to get
to know more of our members on a personal level. To all of the vendors,
I truly want to express my appreciation for your support. Your financial
support is certainly necessary and appreciated but your attendance and
personal involvement in making our programs so successful can not be
measured. To the members who attend our conferences, I want to thank
you for your support and attendance as well. I ask that you find a friend
in the business community to share your experiences of ASIA with to
encourage their involvement. Each of us can reach out to someone to
further the growth of the ASIA organization.
Let us be reminded that our program offers continued education credit
hours for a variety of professionals. Claims Adjuster, Nurses, Case Managers, OT, PT, CLE, CME, and Department of Insurance credit hours
are available in this one conference. This year, the program committee
has again planned a Silent Auction to help fund COMP PAC. As you
may recall, COMP PAC is our political action committee that serves
as our tool to promote and help fund conservative candidates for our
Courts. Please consider bringing an item to be auctioned during this fun
event.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
— Page 2 —
Idiopathic Defense
Aaron D. Ashcraft
Lloyd, Gray, Whitehead & Monroe, P.C.
2501 20 th Place South, Suite 30 0 • Birmingham, A L 35223 • Telephone: 205 -967-8822 • aashcraf t@lg wmlaw.com
INTRODUCTION
The doctrine of “idiopathic falls” can be a
very fruitful defense in workers’ compensation cases. The doctrine arises from the
general rule that, “the employment must
be the source and cause of the accident
in order to be compensable as a workers’
compensation injury.” Slimford Manuf. Co.
v. Martin, 417 So. 2d 199 (Ala. Civ. App.
1981). Based on this rule, courts have held
that injuries attributable solely to “idiopathic factors” are not compensable under
the Workers’ Compensation Act. Idiopathic, when used by a Court in workers’
compensation cases, means “‘peculiar to
the individual’ and not ‘arising from an
unknown cause.’ Idiopathic refers to an
employee’s pre-existing physical weakness
or disease.’” Ex parte Patterson, 561 So. 2d
236, 238 (Ala. 1990).
GENERAL RULE
The Alabama Supreme Court first addressed the compensability of idiopathic
injuries in Slimford Manuf. Co. v. Martin,
417 So. 2d 199 (Ala. Civ. App. 1981).
In that case, the employee died after he
fell while waiting to use the copy machine, striking his head on the floor.
His employer offered evidence that the
employee’s fall was due to a fainting spell
caused by cirrhosis of the liver, although
there was conflicting evidence that the injury might have occurred due to a slip and
fall. The trial court concluded the claimant did not carry his burden to prove the
accident arose in the course of employment, rather than from factors peculiar to
him. The Court of Civil Appeals affirmed
that conclusion, stating “the appellee was
unable to prove that Martin’s employment
exposed him to a ‘danger or risk materially in excess of that to which people not
so employed are exposed’.”
The Court distinguished Irby v. Republic
Creosoting Co., 228 F.2d 195 (5th Cir.
1955) which held that the plaintiff’s fall
from a three foot platform, due to an epileptic seizure, was compensable. The Irby
court reasoned that
“the severity of the fall and the angle and
position at which appellant struck the
ground were directly influenced by the last
three feet of his fall, one of the conditions
of his employment.”
In distinguishing that decision, the Court
in Martin stated that, unlike the three
foot platform in Irby, “in the instant case,
at the time of his fall, Martin was exposed
to no hazard indigenous to his employment.”
In discussing this line of cases, the
Alabama Supreme Court noted “The
principal ‘fault line’ that has been revealed
by the application of the ‘arising out of ’
requirement by Alabama courts is the
distinction between accidents that are at
least partially attributable to an affirmative employment contribution and those
that are attributable solely to what are
called ‘idiopathic’ factors…’” Brown v.
Patton, 77 So. 3d 591 (Ala. 2011) (quoting
with approval Brown v. Patton, 77 So. 3d
587 (Ala. Civ. App. 2009)).
FALL CASES
Application of the idiopathic falls doctrine is relatively straightforward when
faced with a typical slip and fall case.
If the employer can prove the fall was
caused by a condition of the employment,
whether it be a hazard in the work place
or a requirement of the job, then the accident will be deemed compensable. For
example, in Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
v. Muilenburg, 990 So. 2d 434, 438 (Ala.
Civ. App. 2008), the Court concluded
there was substantial evidence that the
Plaintiff’s fall was caused by his employment. The evidence indicated the Plaintiff
tripped and fractured his ankle while
walking. The Court affirmed the award of
benefits, noting
When the accident occurred, the treads of
Muilenburg’s shoes were caked with rubber residue. The surface of Muilenburg’s
shoes also contained residue from slurry, a
slick liquid. There was evidence establishing that slurry, stray pieces of rubber,
and small rubber pellets sometimes were
present on the floor in Muilenburg’s work
area.
This was found to be substantial evidence
of an affirmative employment involvement, despite evidence the Plaintiff could
not recall precisely why he fell. See also
Gold Kist, Inc. v. Oliver, 526 So. 2d 588,
589 (Ala. Civ. App. 1988) (“There was
also testimony that the concrete floor was
always wet and chicken residue would
have to be periodically washed from the
floor. From this testimony the trial court
could have reasonably inferred that Mrs.
Oliver, in the process of leaving her work
station, slipped and fell as a result of the
wet floor.”)
Similarly, in Phenix Med. Park Hosp. v.
ASIA Calendar of Events
ASIA Summer Conference
AUGUST 9-11, 2015
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa • Destin, FL
FEBRUARY 4-5, 2016
ASIA Winter Workshop
Sheraton Birmingham Hotel • Birmingham, AL
ASIA Summer Conference
AUGUST 7-9, 2016
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa • Destin, FL
— Page 3 —
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Kozub, 575 So. 2d 1162, 1163 (Ala. Civ.
App. 1991), the Court found the Plaintiff’s injuries were compensable, after
she tripped and fell in the course of her
employment as a nurse. Although she did
not identify any hazards which caused her
to fall, admitting that she stubbed her toe,
she testified she left the patients room in
a hurry in an attempt to finish her next
shift. The Court found this was sufficient
employment involvement. See also Crown
Textile Co. v. Dial, 507 So. 2d 522, 523
(Ala. Civ. App. 1987) (testimony employee “tripped over something” combined
with evidence of debris in area sufficient
to support a compensable injury.)
In contrast, in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v.
Morgan, 830 So. 2d 741, 746 (Ala. Civ.
App. 2002) the Court reversed the trial
court’s award of benefits to a Plaintiff
who fell while working at Wal-Mart. The
Court noted:
The record contained no evidence indicating that the floor was wet or that it posed
a risk to Morgan. Morgan testified that
she did not see any water on the floor and
that she simply lost her balance and fell.
See also Ex parte Patton, 77 So. 3d 591,
592 (Ala. 2011) (evidence employee
“inexplicably fell” insufficient to establish
affirmative employee involvement)
It is clear from these cases that when the
fall occurs on flat ground, the Plaintiff
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
In closing, let me extend a challenge
to each of you to share the conference
dates and agenda with business associates you may have that have not already
benefited by attending an ASIA conference. Come to Destin and share a
few days with professionals who share
the concerns and interests you have in
both areas of workers compensation
and employee benefits. I am confident
that you will leave Destin with knowledge, memories, and perhaps even a
nice summer tan.
SEE YOU ALL IN DESTIN !
Your President,
Doug Kitchens
Wiley Sanders Truck Lines,
Inc.
is required to identify, or at least present
some evidence of the existence of, some
hazard that caused the fall. This can either
be a substance, such as the slurry and rubber in Muilenberg, or some activity of the
job, such as the nurse in Kozub hurrying
to finish her shift. However, if the fall
happens for an unknown reason, or due to
a personal condition, benefits will not be
awarded.
OTHER SCENARIOS
The issue is more complicated when faced
with an injury other than one occurring
on flat ground, such as a fall down stairs
or while driving.
The issues of a fall from a height, even
when the fall is due to idiopathic reasons, has consistently been deemed to be
compensable. See Irby v. Republic Creosoting Co., 228 F.2d 195 (5th Cir. 1955) (fall
from three foot platform). Gold Kist, Inc.
v. Pope, 539 So. 2d 291, 292 (Ala. Civ.
App. 1988) (fall while “taking inventory
on top of an eight-foot stack of feed” was
compensable despite testimony fall was
caused by seizure disorder.)
However, a common issue that has not
been affirmatively addressed by the
Courts is whether an injury occurring on
the stairs is compensable without evidence
of some additional hazard. The issues potentially cut both ways. Unlike the three
foot platform in Irby and the eight foot
pallet in Pope, stairs cannot be described
“as risk or hazard that he would not have
been exposed to had he not been performing his job.” People are exposed to the risk
of stairs in all walks of life, and are not a
unique hazard indigenous to employment.
We recently had success in obtaining a
defense verdict in Octaviano v. Coast Personnel, wherein we argued the Plaintiffs’
fall down the stairs was not related to
his employment, and instead was related
to his pre-existing condition. The Court
found, “The evidence presented in this
case establishes that the Plaintiff’s fall was
not due to any increased risk created by
the employment, but was instead due to
the Plaintiff’s idiopathic condition, namely, his pre-existing left knee injury, which
caused the Plaintiff to fall.” In that case,
the Plaintiff had already received knee
treatment for a potentially torn meniscus,
and was wearing a knee brace at the time.
He fell down the stairs and aggravated his
knee condition.
— Page 4 —
The defense is more clear in car accidents
that occur due to an idiopathic cause, such
as a seizure or narcolepsy. In Muhammad
v. Laidlaw Transit, Inc., 917 So. 2d 842,
846 (Ala. Civ. App. 2005) the decedent
was killed in a bus crash which resulted
from an epileptic seizure. The Court affirmed the denial of benefits, reasoning “
the trial court properly could have rejected
the proposition that work-related stress
and fatigue were contributing causes of
the employee’s seizure and, instead, could
have concluded that the seizure that the
employee suffered (one of at least four
that she suffered during her lifetime) was
idiopathic, i.e., peculiar to her.”
PRACTICAL TIPS
As with all defenses under the Alabama
Workers’ Compensation Act, application
of this defense will be very case specific.
Some things to look for, in determining
the application of this doctrine, include:
1.Was the injury caused by a fall from
flat ground, stairs or a height?
2.Was the cause of the fall a physical
condition personal to the Plaintiff?
3.Was the Plaintiff able to identify any
hazards which could potentially cause
the fall?
4.Were any hazards present, even if
Plaintiff could not identify them?
5.Did the Plaintiff offer any explanation
for the fall?
6.If the accident involved a motor vehicle,
was the accident caused by a personal
condition, or a hazard of the road?
Of course, as with all claims under the
Workers’ Compensation Act, the Plaintiff bears the burden to prove causation.
Therefore, if the Plaintiff is unable to offer
an affirmative employment involvement, a
denial may be justified.
Aaron is an Associate with Lloyd, Gray,
Whitehead & Monroe (“LGWM”), practicing in LGWM’s Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. Aaron’s practice
focuses on workers’ compensation defense,
as well as ancillary claims of retaliatory
discharge, outrage, bad faith and other
tort claims that may arise out of claims for
workers’ compensation benefits.
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“Since 1998”
Serving Alabama
Self Insured & Group Pools
“Over 1,200 companies and public entities annually have
entrusted MRM and its staff to administer their
work comp claims for their injured workers”
Tom Roper
Partner/Owner
Trope@mrm-llc.com
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“MRM is an original founding shareholder of AlaMed”
MRM • Phone 1-877-402-5246 • Fax 205-824-0240 • 2236 Cahaba Valley Road • Suite 300 • Birmingham, AL 35242 • www.mrm-llc.com
— Page 5 —
Exhibitor Fees & Information
Members – $750 (includes up to 3 representatives per company)
Non-members – $1,000 (includes up to 3 representatives per company)
Spouse/Guest Pass – $75 (includes Receptions, Tradeshow, Continental Breakfasts and Drink Tickets)
Company names that appear on the Exhibitor layout had the privilege of signing up early for the Summer
Conference due to their attendance at the Winter Workshop.
Each booth is 6' deep and 10' wide and includes full pipe and drape, one 6' x 30" skirted table, two chairs, one wastebasket and a
standard ID sign. Booth set-up is contracted through the George Fern Company and all shipping arrangements must be made
directly through them. You will receive an exhibitor package from Fern at a later date.
Booth set-up will begin on Sunday afternoon, August 9th from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. We have planned 6.5 hours
of tradeshow time and all food and beverage events have been planned during tradeshow hours to offer exhibitors
maximum exposure. Exhibitors must tear down their booths after the Continental Breakfast on Tuesday, August
11th. The tradeshow will be closed during all education sessions.
Each exhibitor is required to donate an item worth at least $100 to the Silent Auction. This item will be kept at
your booth for bidding - the better the item - the more traffic you get at your booth.
Exhibitors may move in from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Show hours are:
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Monday
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Tear down at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday
Sponsorship Opportunities
COMP PAC
Silent Auction!
Platinum – $5,000 (unlimited available)
• Includes your choice of exhibit space & 5
representatives
• 4 spouse/guest passes
• Full page ad in program
• Special recognition on signage, in program &
newsletter
Gold – $3,000 (unlimited available)
• Includes exhibit space & 4 representatives
• 3 spouse/guest passes
• 1/2 page ad in program
• Special recognition on signage, in program &
newsletter
Silver – $1,500 (unlimited available)
• Includes exhibit space & 3 representatives
• 2 spouse/guest passes
• Special recognition on signage, in program &
newsletter
Bronze – $1,000 (unlimited available)
• 4 spouse/guest passes
• Special recognition on signage, in program &
newsletter
General – $500 (unlimited available)
• Special recognition on signage, in program &
newsletter
Golf Sponsor – $2,500 (1 available)
Tennis Sponsor – $500 (Taken)
Hotel Key Sponsor – $2,000 (Taken)
Program Back Cover – $750.00 (Taken)
The ASIA Summer Conference keeps
getting bigger and better each year. Last
year we had over 600 people attend the
Conference to learn something new, meet at
least one new industry contact, find at least
one new supplier, vendor or product and to
have fun.
This year our Program Committee has
again planned a Silent Auction to help fund
COMP PAC, our political action committee.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a gift
to be placed in the silent auction. The most
popular items are home decorative pieces,
power tools, recreational items like gold
clubs, tennis rackets, fishing rods and reels.
Each vendor is also be asked to donate an
item. Vendor items will be placed at the
vendor’s booths, so the more popular the
item, the more traffic at their booth. It will
be fun and should help COMP PAC rebuild
its balance.
— Page 6 —
Alabama Self-Insurer’s Association • Summer Conference 2015
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8TH
12:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9TH
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
11:30 – 1:00 p.m.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Scottie Spates Memorial Golf Tournament
Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Tennis at Sandestin
Registration & Refreshments
Case Law Update – Charles Carr & Bo Kirkpatrick, Carr Allison
Subrogation Strategies & Ethical Concerns
Cowin Knowles, Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak and Billy Debuys, Starnes Davis Florie
Refreshment Break
Exhibitor Move In
Complexity of Shoulder Pain
Dr. John Greco, The Orthopaedic Center
Focus on Function: Non-Opioid Pain Management – Dr. Ashlee Fulmer
Meet Our Supreme Court Justices
Alabama Supreme Court Justices Mike Bolin, Tom Parker & Kelli Wise
Opening Reception in Tradeshow
MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast in the Tradeshow
3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
WORKERS COMPENSATION TRACK
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Alternatives To Prescription Pain Medication, Opioid Reduction
Todd Kwiatkowski, H-Wave
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
TBI: From Recovery to Return to Work – Dr. Melissa Ogden; Leslie Dawson and
Peggy Anderson, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Refreshment Break in the Tradeshow
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Combining Old Techniques/Manual Therapy and New Techniques/
Dry Needling to Restore Function – Dana Blake, Shelby Baptist Medical Center
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Successfully Settling a Complex Claim – Mark Pew, Prium
11:30 – 12 noon
Garbage In, Wisdom Out – Doug Kauffman, Balch Bingham
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT TRACK
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Gender Issues in the Workplace – David Walston, Christian Small
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Three Strikes and Your Company is Unionized; Ambush Elections, Microbargaining Units
and Employee Communications – James Pennington, Ogletree Deakins
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Refreshment Break in the Tradeshow
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Who is your Employer? Traversing the Uncertain Landscape of Independent
Contractors, Volunteers and Temporary Employees – Jeremiah Rogers, Ogletree Deakins
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Social Media and Personnel Decisions – Celia Collins, Johnstone Adams
11:30 – 12:00
The Tangled Web: Why You Can’t Take Light Duty Lightly – Tam Yelling
Constangy, Brooks
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Reception and Silent Auction in Tradeshow
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
11:15 – 12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
Breakfast in the Tradeshow
Update from the Department of Labor – Fitzgerald Washington, Invited
Fit For Work – Tom Tobin, MBA, OTR
Keeping Workers Comp on the Right Track – Larisa Hensiek, Occusure
Refreshment Break/Hotel Check Out
Behind Closed Doors: What Really Goes On in Mediation – Judges Art Hanes,
Scott Vowell and Richard Pearson, Invited
The Active Shooter: A Survivor’s Story Through the Eyes of the Nurse Case Manager –
Mary Ann McMeans, RN, BS, CRRN, CCM, Comp One
Annual Membership Meeting
Again this year, we have planned a Break-out session on the hottest issues in employee
benefits, scheduled for Monday morning. Bring your HR and employee benefits people.
Today, it is imperative for employers to make sure all departments are working together.
— Page 7 —
Alabama Self-Insurer’s Association
Post Office Box 240757
Montgomery, Alabama 36124-0757
Prsrt. Std.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 275
Montgomery, AL
ASIA has applied for the following CE Credits:
Claims Adjusters - 12 hours
Nurses - 12 hours
Case Managers - 10 hours
OT - 12 hours
PT - applied for
CLE hours - applied for
Department of Insurance - applied for
CME - ASIA offers attendees 10 hours of instruction
Activity Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
• Discuss current workers’ compensation case law rulings and
its impact of treatment of workers’ compensation injuries.
• Discuss 2 new trends in treating an injured worker with
complex or catastrophic workers’ compensation injury.
• Describe 3 methods used to control pain and diminish opioid
medications usage for a workers’ compensation injury.
Hotel
Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Hilton
Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa directly at (850) 2679500. The run of the house room rate for the conference is $199
a night (single or double occupancy) plus 11% sales tax.
Reservations must be made by July 8th in order to secure the
special room rate and to ensure room availability.
Remember to mention that you are with the ASIA Summer
Conference when making your reservation. Check out the
hotel at their web site at www.sandestinbeachhilton.com.
Call early as the hotel typically sells out during our meeting.
• Apply knowledge of the Alabama Workers Compensation
Act and current law to settling complex claims.
• List 3 ways to maintain high ethical standards while
providing care for an injured worker.
Scottie Spates Memorial Golf Tournament
We have moved the Scottie Spates Memorial Golf Tournament
to Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club on Saturday. The golf
tournament will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a shotgun start and
will include lunch and prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams,
the longest drive and closest to the pin.
Dress
Dress for the conference and all social activities is resort
causal. However, you may want to bring a light jacket or
sweater to wear during the meetings as it is sometimes difficult
to regulate the temperature in large conference rooms and it
tends to be cool.
Start making your plans to attend the ASIA Summer Conference by completing your registration form and
returning it with your payment to the ASIA office today! If you have any questions or need additional
—office
Page 8 at
— (334) 260-7970 or (800) 366-3439.
information, please contact the ASIA
Summer Conference
Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort
August 9-11, 2015
REGISTRATION FORM
Name (1)____________________________________________________________________________________________
Company ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone (
) _______________________________________Email__________________________________________
______ Member - $400
______ Non-member - $600
______ Exhibitor, Member - $850
(Includes up to 3 representatives)
______ Exhibitor, Non-member - $1,200
(Includes up to 3 representatives)
Additional exhibitor representative(s):
(2)_______________________________________________________________
(3)_______________________________________________________________
____ Spouse/Guest Pass - $75
Name(s): _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Sponsorships:
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
Activities:
Platinum - $5,000 • Includes your choice of exhibit space, 5 representatives, and 4 spouse/guest passes
Gold - $3,000 • Includes exhibit space, 4 representatives and 3 spouse/guest passes
Silver - $1,500 • Includes exhibit space, 3 representatives and 2 spouse/guest passes
Bronze - $1,000 • Includes 4 spouse/guest passes
General - $500
Golf Hole Sponsor - $250
Golf Sponsor - $2,500
Tennis Tournament Sponsor - $500
Room Key Sponsor* - $2,000
Back Cover of Program - $750
(Please indicate # of participants)
____ Golf - $100 per player
(includes lunch & prizes)
Name: _________________________________________Handicap: _________
Name: _________________________________________Handicap: _________
____ Tennis Tournament - $25 per player Name: ____________________________________________________
Total payment enclosed: $ ____________
Please circle one:
Visa
MasterCard
American Express
Discover
Credit Card #: ______________________________________________ Expiration Date: ____________________________
Signature: ________________________________________Billing Zip Code:_______________Security Code:___________
Please send completed registration form and payment to the ASIA office at:
Post Office Box 240757 • Montgomery, AL 36124-0757
(334) 260-7970 • (800) 366-3439 • Fax (334) 272-7128
— Page 9 —
ASIA has applied for the following CE Credits:
Registered Ortho Techs (ROTs) - 12 hours
Claims Adjusters - 12 hours
Nurses - 12 hours
Case Managers - 10 hours
OT - 12 hours
PT - applied for
CLE hours - applied for
Department of Insurance - applied for
CME - ASIA offers attendees 10 hours of instruction
Activity Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
• Discuss current workers’ compensation case law rulings and
its impact of treatment of workers’ compensation injuries.
• Discuss 2 new trends in treating an injured worker with
complex or catastrophic workers’ compensation injury.
• Describe 3 methods used to control pain and diminish opioid
medications usage for a workers’ compensation injury.
Hotel
Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Hilton Sandestin
Beach Golf Resort and Spa directly at (850) 267-9500. The run of the
house room rate for the conference is $199 a night (single or double
occupancy) plus 11% sales tax.
Reservations must be made by July 8th in order to secure the
special room rate and to ensure room availability.
Remember to mention that you are with the ASIA Summer
Conference when making your reservation. Check out the hotel at
their web site at www.sandestinbeachhilton.com.
Call early as the hotel typically sells out during our meeting.
• Apply knowledge of the Alabama Workers Compensation
Act and current law to settling complex claims.
• List 3 ways to maintain high ethical standards while
providing care for an injured worker.
Scottie Spates Memorial Golf Tournament
We have moved the Scottie Spates Memorial Golf Tournament to
Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club on Saturday. The golf tournament
will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a shotgun start and will include lunch
and prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams, the longest drive and
closest to the pin.
Dress
Dress for the conference and all social activities is resort causal.
However, you may want to bring a light jacket or sweater to wear
during the meetings as it is sometimes difficult to regulate the
temperature in large conference rooms and it tends to be cool.
Start making your plans to attend the ASIA Summer Conference by completing your registration form and
returning it with your payment to the ASIA office today! If you have any questions or need additional
information, please contact the ASIA office at (334) 260-7970 or (800) 366-3439.
Your Home Town Doctors are
Here for You 7 Days a Week
Fish~Nelson
Fish~Nelson LLC
Attorneys at Law | Birmingham, Alabama
Handling Workers’ Compensation Defense
for Self Insured Companies
throughout the State of Alabama.
L-R, Christopher McGee, MD, Robert Posey, MD, Perry Lovely, MD, Noah Lott, MD, Elwin Crawford, MD, Michael McIntyre, MD
• Laboratory Services
4
• Wound & Burn Care
• Injuries/Illness
•X-Ray Exams
• Drug & Alcohol Screening
• Respiratory Protection
Visit us at www.FishNelson.com
or call us today at (205) 332-3430.
LOCATIONS TO
BETTER SERVE YOU
(205) 343-2225
(205) 333-1993
400 Century Park South • Suite 224 • Birmingham, AL 35226
Phone: (205) 332-3430 • Fax: (205) 822-6611
www.fishnelson.com
(334) 289-0225
(205) 822-1150
www.medcenterurgentcare.com
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater
than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
ASIA Membership Update
These companies have become members or renewed membership since the 2015 ASIA Director y
went to press.
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIPS
Beaulieu Group, LLC
Post Office Box 1248
Dalton, GA 30722
Phone: 706.275.4451
Beth Randolph, Risk Manager
beth.randolph@beaulieugroup.com
Alabama Prosthetic & Orthotic Consortium (APOC)
4121 Plank Road, Suite 517
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Phone: (540) 412-1429
D. Scott Williamson, Jr., Executive Director
scott@qualityoutcomes.com
Glenn Crumpton
glenn@aalos.com
Steve Blackwell
sab@hiwaay.com
City of Decatur Personnel Board
Post Office Box 1984
Decatur, AL 35602
Phone: 256.341.4890
Kenneth E. Smith, Personnel Director
kesmith@decatur-al.gov
Construction Claims Management, Inc.
Post Office Box 244202
Montgomery, AL 36124
Phone: 800.372.1801
Mona Hattaway, Claims Manager
monahattaway@hbaa.org
Arthur J. Galagher & Co.
4904 Eisenhower Blvd., Suite 250
Tampa, FL 33634
Phone: 727.797.4190
Randall Squires, Area Sr. Vice President
randy_squires@ajg.com
Healthcare Workers’ Compensation Fund
Post Office Box 211359
Montgomery, AL 36121
Phone: 334.271.5515
Doug Hughes, Chief Operating Officer
dhughes@coastalins.org
Dawn Adams, Senior Vice President, Claims
dadams@hwcf.net
Shannon Cole, Workers’ Compensation
Claims Manager
scole@hwcf.net
Lozier Corporation
401 Taylor Street
Scottsboro, AL 35768
Phone: 256.259.6100
Teresa Wilson, Human Resources Manager
teresa.wilson@lozier.biz
Teresa Blackwell, Leave Administrator
teresa.blackwell@lozier.biz
MeadWestvaco Corporation
501 South Fifth Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804.444.7047
Kim Bolster, Casualty Program Manager
Kim.Bolster@mwv.com
Roy Rigney, Safety Manager
Roy.Rigney@mwv.com
Cathy Porter, LPN, Occupational Nurse Manager
cathy.porter@mwv.com
Benefit Choices, Inc.
6732 Taylor Circle
Montgomery, AL 36117
Phone: 334.676.1550
Jackie Hewitt, President
jackie@benefitchoicesinc.net
Wayne Jones, VP
wayne@benefitchoicesinc.net
Russell Sherling, Account Executive
Russell@benefitchoicesinc.net
Employer’s Claim Management, Inc.
Post Office Box 5614
Montgomery, AL 36103
Phone: 334.377.9395
Jeff Norman, President
jeffnorman@employersclaim.com
Tracie Schofield, VP Claims
tracieschofield@employersclaim.com
Lynne Sutter, Claims Director
lynnesutter@employersclaim.com
HomeCare Connect
2600 Maitland Center Parkway, Suite 230
Maitland, FL 32751
Phone: 678.878.6913
Richard Montgomery, VP Sales
rmontgomery@homecareconnect.com
Integrated Prescription Solutions, Inc.
3190-A Airport Loop Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: 866.846.9279
Jill Schmidt, Regional Account Executive
lkeezell@ipsusa.com
OccuSure Workers’ Compensation Specialists, LLC
6 Cadillac Drive, Suite 370
Brentwood, TN 37075
Phone: 615.221.5400
Corey Lile, President
jjennings@occusure.com
Neal Heath, Executive VP
nheath@occusure.com
Laurie Reuther, VP of Marketing
lreuther@occusure.com
— Page 11 —
Pinnacle Brain & Spine Center
6701 Airport Blvd., D-146
Mobile, AL 36608
Phone: 251.633.5155
Sabrina Alexander, Physician Liaison
salexander@pinnaclebrainandspine.com
Juan Ronderos, MD
cwilliams@pinnaclebrainandspine.com
Theodore Kopp, MD
Derrick Cho, MD
Spear, Spear & Hamby, PC
Post Office Box 1347
Mobile, AL 36633
Phone: 251.344.8181
David Hamby, Jr., Partner
dah@sshlawpc.com
PRIUM
2805 Peachtree Ind. Blvd, Suite 112
Duluth, GA 30097
Phone: 678.735.7309
Mark Pew, Senior VP
mpew@prium.net
Michael Gavin, President
mgavin@prium.net
Ben Roberts, Compliance/VP
broberts@prium.net
Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants
201 Governors Drive, Suite 400
Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: 256.265.7246
Jackie Makowski, Manager Business Development
jackie.makowski@hhsys.org
Trinity/Grandview Medical Center
800 Montclair Road
Birmingham, AL 35213
Phone: 205.592.5714
Donna Speir, Physician Liaison
Donna.speir@trinitymedicalonline.com
Amanda Mundy, Director, Business Development
amanda.mundy@trinitymedical online.com
Judeth Thomas, Occupational Medicine Program
Coordinator
judeth.thomas@trinitymedicalonline.com
The Self-Insurer
is a quarterly
publication of the
Alabama Self-Insurers
Association
Post Office Box 240757
Montgomery, AL 36124-0757
(800) 366-3439
Fax (334) 272-7128
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MONTGOMERY, AL
PERMIT #275
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