2008 Agenda 

Thursday, October 16, 2008
7:30 am	8:30 am	Continental Breakfast and Workshop Registration
10:00 am	10:30 am	Break
8:30 am	11:30 am	(Choose 1 of 2 Workshops)
		Workshop #1: The Anatomy of a Repetitive Motion Disorder: Treating Employees with RMDs to Minimize the Risks (H8833003)
		Workshop #2: Reducing the Risks in the Employment Law and Workers' Comp Overlap: Managing the Interaction Between Workers' Comp, Federal Law, and Hawaii Law (H8833004)
11:15 am	12:30 pm	Conference Registration and Light Lunch in Exhibit Hall
12:30 pm	12:45 pm	Opening Remarks from the Chair
12:45 pm	2:30 pm	KEYNOTE SESSION: LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE Emerging Trends from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: Hawaii Workers' Comp-Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?
2:30 pm	3:00 pm	Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
3:00 pm	3:50 pm	Examining the Latest Workers' Comp Case Law That Can Impact Your Organization
3:50 pm	4:45 pm	Implementing Proper Documentation of Workers' Comp Claims to Safeguard Your Organization
4:45 pm	6:00 pm	Networking Cocktail Reception in Exhibit Hall
6:00 pm		Day One Concludes
Friday, October 17, 2008
7:30 am	8:30 am	Continental Breakfast
8:30 am	9:30 am	KEYNOTE SESSION: FRAUD UPDATE Hawaii Workers' Comp Fraud: Strategies to Minimize and Respond to Fraudulent Claims
9:30 am	10:30 am	Safety and Injury-Prevention Programs That Can Positively Impact Your Bottom Line
10:30 am	11:00 am	Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
11:00 am	12:00 pm
		Successfully Resolving Contested Claims in the Hawaii Workers' Comp System
12:15 pm	1:15 pm	Networking Lunch in Exhibit Hall
1:15 pm	2:15 pm
		Getting Employees Back in the Game: Return-to-Work and Vocational-Rehabilitation Programs That Can Reduce Lost Time
2:15 pm	3:15 pm
		Subrogation and Third-Party Lawsuits: What Every Employer Should Know
3:15 pm	3:30 pm	Break
3:30 pm	4:30 pm
		Panel Discussion: Controlling the Biggest Cost Drivers in Hawaii Workers' Comp
4:30 pm		Conference Concludes
8:30 am Workshop #1: The Anatomy of a Repetitive Motion Disorder: Treating Employees with RMDs to Minimize the Risks (H8833003) Musculoskeletal injuries cost employers millions in lost workdays every year. The costs associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries are astronomical. These claims have the highest reported total average workers' comp cost per case. Listen as our medical professional covers the issues and provides you with solutions for dealing with these dangerous musculoskeletal disorders. Defining a "repetitive motion disorder": Carpal tunnel, bursitis, tendonitis, and more Causation issues in the workplace: What your organization should know Taking a look at the disability guidelines on RMDs Understanding the standard treatment of RMDs and what to expect from your medical provider Can ergonomics help prevent problems? RMD and workers' comp fraud: Taking a look at the red flags Stephen M. Hirasuna, MD THE OFFICE OF STEPHEN M. HIRASUNA, MD Michael M. Kusaka, MD STRAUB CLINIC & HOSPITAL Back
8:30 am Workshop #2: Reducing the Risks in the Employment Law and Workers' Comp Overlap: Managing the Interaction Between Workers' Comp, Federal Law, and Hawaii Law (H8833004) As if dealing with an employee injury isn't confusing enough, what happens when you add the alphabet soup of employment laws into the mix? Understanding the FMLA, the HFLL, the ADA, your CBA, and other employment issues can reduce the risks you face when dealing with employees who have been injured or filed a claim. Workplace injuries and disabilities: When does the ADA come into consideration? When a workers' comp injury is also a serious health condition under the FMLA or HFLL FMLA update: Taking a look at the changes in the FMLA you need to know The FMLA/HFLL and light-duty programs Reasonable accommodations under workers' comp, the FMLA, and the ADA Collective bargaining and workers' comp Reducing the risks of a retaliation charge when disciplining or terminating protected employees Karen R. Tashima, Esq., Partner CHOY & TASHIMA, ATTORNEYS AT LAW Back
12:30 pm Opening Remarks from the Chair Jacqueline W.S. Amai, Esq., Shareholder HENDERSON GALLAGHER & KANE, AAL, ALC Back
12:45 pm KEYNOTE SESSION: LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE Emerging Trends from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: Hawaii Workers' Comp-Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going? Hawaii workers' compensation has seen reform suggestions come and go over the past few years, and even now there are reform ideas in the legislature for the current session. What can the Hawaii Department of Labor tell us about where we are right now and where workers' comp is headed in Hawaii? Take a look at some of the current strategies for success and what to expect in the future. Darwin L.D. Ching, Esq., Director DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, STATE OF HAWAII Walter Kawamura, Hearings Branch Supervisor DISABILITY COMPENSATION DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, STATE OF HAWAII Back
3:00 pm Examining the Latest Workers' Comp Case Law That Can Impact Your Organization You may keep up with the case law coming from workers' compensation cases, but do you know what the decisions actually mean to your organization? How can these cases help you prepare for the future of workers' compensation? What do Hawaii's workers' comp specialists see on the horizon? Our knowledgeable speaker will prepare you with an update on legal decisions that will impact the way you handle claims. Merideth Q. McEntire, Esq., Attorney HENDERSON GALLAGHER & KANE, AAL, ALC Back
3:50 pm Implementing Proper Documentation of Workers' Comp Claims to Safeguard Your Organization Most employers do not intentionally make mistakes in handling injuries and claims. Do you know what the most common mistakes organizations make are? Paperwork can be one of the most frustrating issues you face in a claim but can protect your organization from liability and lawsuits. Our workers' comp specialists will share with you practical tips to avoid mistakes and ensure you are in compliance. Policies and procedures, or the lack of, that can put your organization in hot water Forms, forms, and forms: Timely and proper filing of forms can make or break a claim Documentation issues that can cause trouble down the road Ensuring you are ready for a workers' compensation hearing or settlement meeting Sylvia K. Higashi, Esq., Attorney KESSNER UMEBAYASHI BAIN & MATSUNAGA Back
8:30 am KEYNOTE SESSION: FRAUD UPDATE Hawaii Workers' Comp Fraud: Strategies to Minimize and Respond to Fraudulent Claims Suspicious Monday-morning injuries, employees that just don't seem to get better, rumors making the rounds about an injured employee working somewhere else-what can you do when you suspect the worst? Find the answers to preventing questionable claims and handling the suspicious claims you have now. Proactive strategies to prevent fraudulent claims and malingering The pros and cons of the latest techniques for conducting airtight investigations Determining whether to utilize the services of an outside investigator Using surveillance tapes in claims before the Department of Labor It's fraud. What happens now? Ensuring your investigation does not end in a retaliation claim or suit Sharon K. Ohata, CIC, CRM, MBA, Director of Training and Development ISLAND INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD. Back
9:30 am Safety and Injury-Prevention Programs That Can Positively Impact Your Bottom Line Accidents, near misses, and workplace injuries are preventable. Preventing injuries is one of the best ways to cut your workers' compensation costs. Accident frequency, as well as accident severity, can drive up your claim costs. Designing a program that effectively reduces accidents and injuries can minimize lost time, improve employee morale, and seriously reduce your workers' comp costs. Strategies to build management and employee buy-in to safety and injury prevention Ensuring your program does not encourage underreporting Case study: What Goodfellow Bros., Inc. is doing to keep their employees safe Craig Shoji, CHST, Safety Manager GOODFELLOW BROS., INC. Back
11:00 am Successfully Resolving Contested Claims in the Hawaii Workers' Comp System Resolving workers' comp claims quickly and cost-effectively is the aim of every employer and insurance carrier. In this session, you will acquire the best practices that can help you resolve claims before they wind up in court. Avoiding the most common mistakes employers make when dealing with injured employees Working with the Disability Compensation Division and the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board Preventing litigation: What you can do to stay out of court Alternative dispute resolution methods that can create a win-win situation Scott R. Devenney, Esq., Attorney DEVENNEY WATANABE & BROOKE, A LAW CORPORATION Back
1:15 pm Getting Employees Back in the Game: Return-to-Work and Vocational-Rehabilitation Programs That Can Reduce Lost Time Light-duty and modified-duty work plans incorporated into a strong return-to-work program can save you in medical costs, contested claims, and lost time. The longer an injured employee is out of work, the less likely it is he or she will return. Research shows that workers recover three times faster when involved in a transitional return-to-work program. This can affect claim costs, improve morale, and keep your productivity high. Understanding the elements of a successful return-to-work program From vocational-rehabilitation programs to light-duty work: Looking at who is involved in the return-to-work process Defining the benefits of return to work for employers and managers Creating the financial incentive for an employee to return to work in a modified-duty capacity The psychology of workers' comp: Addressing employees' fears and increasing motivation Best practices in making your return-to-work program effective for your organization Laurie H. Hamano, M. Ed., CRC, President VOCATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS, INC Back
2:15 pm Subrogation and Third-Party Lawsuits: What Every Employer Should Know Subrogation and third-party lawsuits are often underutilized methods of controlling costs in a workers' compensation claim. However, there are some complexities when handling these kinds of claims, so employers need to tread carefully to ensure they use these strategies correctly. Determining who exactly qualifies as a third party in workers' comp lawsuits: Employers, insurance carriers, and others What are your subrogation rights in Hawaii? Investigating the claim to find the merits of the case Looking at future credits in subrogation Successful subrogation and third-party suits: Can it affect your insurance rates? Kenneth T. Goya, Esq., Partner AYABE, CHONG, NISHIMOTO, SIA & NAKAMURA, LLLP Back
3:30 pm Panel Discussion: Controlling the Biggest Cost Drivers in Hawaii Workers' Comp According to a recent study by the NCCI, workers' comp medical severity is rising at 3.5 times the rate of medical inflation. While comp costs across the country continue to plague employers and insurance companies, many of them are unaware of what it is that actually drives the costs. This session will focus on best practices for taking control of the biggest cost drivers in Hawaii workers' compensation. Identifying frequently overlooked cost drivers with private insurance: Managing your experience modification factors, reserve amounts, and more Employee personal health factors: Are they raising your company's workers' comp costs? Managing your risk factors: Root-cause analysis of current claims in your organization Working with medical providers to reduce long-term medical costs Getting the most out of a utilization review on your claims Avoiding the most common employer mistakes that can drive up claim costs Moderator Sharon K. Ohata, CIC, CRM, MBA, Director of Training and Development ISLAND INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD. Panel Charles R. Kelley, MD, MPH, MBA, Vice President OUTRIGGER ENTERPRISES, INC Russell Park, Vice President, Client Consulting Group ATLAS INSURANCE Lucia U. Keane, Work Comp Supervisor JOHN MULLEN & COMPANY, INC Back