Thursday
• March 2, 2006
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 am - 8:45 am
Welcome & Introduction
William Faris, J.D., President & CEO Occupational
Managed Care Alliance (OMCA)
8:45 am – 9:30 am
Impact of Pain Treatment on Workers’
Compensation System
Hon. William Emrick, Executive Director Office of
Workers’ Claims
Mr. Emrick will discuss the negative financial impact
of excessive and inappropriate pain treatment on the workers’
compensation system and various solutions being attempted in other
states.
9:30 am – 10:15 am
Community Impact of Legal and Illegal Drug
Abuse
Karyn Hascal, Deputy Director Governor’s Office
of Drug Control Policy
As Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office
of Drug Policy, Karyn Hascal will discuss the devastating economic
and social impact of illegal drug trafficking on local communities.
10:15 am – 10:30 am BREAK
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Addictive Behavior
Dr. Robert Stewart, Psychiatrist
Dr. Stewart has 25 years experience in dealing with
persons who have addictive personalities. Dr. Stewart will describe
the characteristics of such individuals, their propensity toward
drug abuse and the path these workers may follow as a result of
drugs administered following a work related injury.
11:30 am- 1:00 pm
LUNCH, ON YOUR OWN
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Pain Management in the Workers’ Compensation
Surgical Patient
Dr. Jonathan Hodes, Neurosurgeon
Workers who undergo surgery as a result of a work-related
injury frequently receive pain-control medications both pre and
post-surgery. Dr. Hodes will describe his typical workers' compensation
patient, the medications that patient might receive and expected
outcomes.
1:45 pm – 2:30 pm
Evaluating Pain Treatments
Dr. Ellen Ballard, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
There are many different providers of pain treatment
in the workers' compensation system. Dr. Ballard will address
how to identify responsible, effective pain treatment versus treatment
that may enable drug abuse. |
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2:30 pm – 2:45 pm
BREAK
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Chronic Pain and the Wounded Worker Syndrome
Dr. William Nemeth, Medical Director Texas Workers’ Compensation
Commission
Dr. Nemeth is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and Medical
Director of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission.
He will discuss the treatment of chronic pain, the roles of both
the physician and the wounded worker in the problem of over-treatment,
and the strong financial issues which result in irresponsible
pain management.
3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Evidence-Based Pain Management
Dr. Suzanne Novak, M.D., PhD.
As a board-certified anesthesiologist and an expert in pharmaceutical
economics, Dr. Novak brings a unique perspective to the issue
of pain management and the many modalities whichpurport to improve
the workers’ condition. Dr. Novak will address what is supported
by science and what is not.
Friday • March
3, 2006
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 am - 8:45 am
Welcome & Introduction
William Faris, J.D., President & CEO
Occupational Managed Care Alliance, Inc (OMCA)
8:45 am - 9:45 am
NASPER
Congressman Ed Whitfield
U.S. Representative 1st District
NASPER is federal legislation which will greatly enhance the
effectiveness of detecting prescription drug abuse and give multi-state
application to current programs like Kentucky’s KASPER.
Congressman Whitfield is the author of this federal legislation
and will address the Act’s goals and objectives.
9:45 am – 10:45 am
Procedural Treatment and Mistreatment of Low Back Pain
Dr. Russell Travis, Neurosurgeon
Many different surgical approaches are now available to treat
back injuries, e.g. fusions, artificial discs, etc. Dr. Travis
will tell us what works and what doesn’t.
10:45 am – 11:00 am BREAK |
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11:00 am - 11:45 am
Federal, State and Local Efforts to Reduce Prescription,
Illegal, and Internet Drug Abuse
Dan Smoot, Director of Law Enforcement, Operation UNITE
Eastern Kentucky is making a strong effort to reduce the amount
of illegal prescription drug trafficking and illegal internet
sales. Dan Smoot will discuss the roles of federal, state and
local law enforcement, specifically the 30 law enforcement officers
he directs through Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigation,
Treatment and Education).
11:45 am – 1:15 pm LUNCH, ON YOUR OWN
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Managing Costs of Pain Treatment in the Manufacturing
Setting
Hon. Cathy M. Jackson
Managing Counsel Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Pain treatment is expensive to private companies as well as workers’
compensation carriers. Cathy Jackson will describe the experience
of Toyota Motor Manufacturing and its efforts to successfully
defend against ineffective and inappropriate treatment.
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
What I See
Hon. Tom Ferreri, Defense Attorney
Knowing a course of treatment to be ineffective and stopping
it are two different things. Tom Ferreri discusses how to construct
a successful defense and what the defense attorney needs from
the claims adjuster to be effective.
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm BREAK
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
What I Need to See
Hon. Donna Terry, Administrative Law Judge
The treating physician says “more drugs for a longer time”;
your IME physician says “enough is enough”. Judge
Terry advises what you must prove and who you must use if you
want to successfully challenge the on-going course of treatment.
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm
Closure: What’s the Next Step?
William Faris, J.D., President & CEO
Occupational Managed Care Alliance, Inc (OMCA) |
Injured Worker 
Employer 
Provider