Sheena Harrison
Business Insurance
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Past articles by Sheena:
Data science to play growing role in claims handling, executives say
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The use of data science is expected to increase in the claims management industry as the field continues to evolve, according to senior third-party administrator executives. When it comes to preventing and managing claims, "data science is, in some respects, potentially the holy grail for helping us do that better," said Scott Hudson, CEO of Itasca, Illinois-based Gallagher… → Read More
Comp disability guideline publisher acquired by Hearst
Work Loss Data Institute, which publishes a set of well-known workers compensation disability treatment guidelines, has been acquired by New York media conglomerate Hearst Corp. → Read More
2016 Innovation Awards: Origami Risk L.L.C.
Origami Risk L.L.C. hopes to help clients cut workers compensation costs and reduce lost work time for injured workers by including some of the comp industry's leading medical treatment and return-to-work standards in a risk management information system. Chicago-based Origami Risk integrated the Official Disability Guidelines into its data platform in September, earning it a 2016 Business… → Read More
Videotaped lobby fight sinks hotel manager's retaliation claim
A hotel manager who was recorded fighting with a man in the hotel’s lobby was reasonably fired over the altercation and therefore can’t claim that her employer terminated her employment for filing a workers compensation claim, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.Amy... → Read More
Safety-related training proposed for truck, bus, motor coach drivers
A federal agency has proposed training standards for entry-level commercial truck and bus drivers that are intended to improve safety.A notice of proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is to be published Monday, would... → Read More
Independent medical reviews rising for California comp claims
The number of independent medical reviews for California workers compensation claims rose 19% year-over-year in 2015, despite the fact that doctors conducting such reviews tended to uphold the vast majority of medical decisions made in workers comp utilization reviews, according to a study from the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. California workers comp reforms implemented in 2013… → Read More
Overdose prevention pills don't cure opioid problem
Medications used to reverse opioid overdoses or limit the “high” created by opioids can help prevent narcotic-related deaths, but workers compensation experts say injured workers who obtain those medications should receive help to wean them off opioids. “If a patient is at such high risk of overdose that the physician thinks they need Evzio or Probuphine, a better → Read More
Doctor who overprescribed opioids gets up to life in prison
A California doctor convicted of murder for prescribing unnecessary painkillers has been sentenced to spend 30 years to life in California prison. A Los Angeles Superior Court jury in late October found Dr. Hsiu-Ying “Lisa” Tseng guilty of three counts of second-degree murder, 19 counts of unlawful controlled substance prescription and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud,… → Read More
Allied World re-evaluating underwriting strategy as profit dives
Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings A.G. reported net income of $1.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, down 98.7% from the same quarter in 2014 as the insurer saw a significant drop in its underwriting income. Executives for the Zug, Switzerland-based insurer said in a conference call Thursday that they are working to shift the company's underwriting strategies after the company “came up… → Read More
Allied World re-evaluating underwriting strategy as profit dives
Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings A.G. reported net income of $1.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, down 98.7% from the same quarter in 2014 as the insurer saw a significant drop in its underwriting income. Executives for the Zug, Switzerland-based insurer said in a conference call Thursday that they are working to shift the company's underwriting strategies after the company “came up… → Read More
Safety in focus as comp pricing tools change
Without improved safety practices, updates in the calculation of workers compensation experience modification factors could raise workers comp premiums for employers in Texas, which has seen a notable jump in the split-point calculations for workers comp. “The impact on their experience mod in the state of Texas really can be substantial,” said Pam Ferrandino, New York-based → Read More
13 indicted in multimillion dollar comp claim fraud scheme
The San Diego District Attorney's office says 13 people have been indicted in what it calls “one of the largest workers' compensation health care insurance bribery schemes ever uncovered in San Diego County.” The alleged scheme included “millions of dollars” in fraudulent workers comp claims, the attorney's office said in a statement Thursday. Victims included Broadspire Services Inc., Gallagher… → Read More
UnitedHealth purchase of Helios will tap workers comp growth areas
UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s acquisition of workers compensation pharmacy benefit manager Helios will help the health insurer grow by expanding its offerings in the pharmaceutical space, an analyst says.OptumRx Inc., UnitedHealth's PBM unit, acquired Helios on Jan. 15, spokespeople for the companies... → Read More
Murder by prescription
The murder convictions of a California doctor for prescribing unnecessary painkillers are a warning for doctors who treat injured workers to prescribe opioids sparingly. Sources said they hope that efforts to hold doctors liable for irresponsible opioid prescribing practices, in tandem with using safe prescribing guidelines, will help reduce opioid addiction and overdoses among workers → Read More
Murder by prescription
Doctors may think twice before breaking out their Rx pads for opioid prescriptions following the murder convictions of Dr. Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng. → Read More
With falling rates, market favors buyers
Employers are seeing flat or lower workers compensation policy pricing as insurers work to hang onto profitable accounts during the 2016 renewal season. Additionally, sources say insurers are offering incentives such as relaxed collateral terms and safety program assistance to keep existing customers and prevent them from shopping their accounts in a competitive comp market.Sources at → Read More
Workers comp insurer looks to expand outside of Colorado
Colorado’s state-chartered workers compensation insurer, Pinnacol Assurance, will ask the Colorado Legislature next year to allow the company to sell comp policies outside the state.In its second effort to change its business model, Denver-based Pinnacol plans to submit a proposal in early... → Read More
Workers comp opt-out backers ready fresh campaigns
Workers compensation opt-out programs are expected to remain a hot topic in 2016 as advocates push to expand such programs around the country. Tennessee legislators reportedly are gearing up to reintroduce opt-out legislation in 2016 after a proposal earlier this year failed to move forward. And the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation — a group → Read More
Coca-Cola warehouse fined over safety violations
A Coca-Cola Co. distribution warehouse has received $61,600 in penalties by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged repeat and serious safety violations. OSHA inspectors cited Coca-Cola Refreshments USA Inc. in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, for repeat violations related to obstructed exit routes, lack of illuminated emergency exit signs, unmarked exits and improper… → Read More
2015 Women to Watch: Mary Beth Sanford
Mary Beth Sanford Managing director and senior vice president Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. Dublin, Ohio Age: 52 A background in gymnastics gave Mary Beth Sanford the determination to become one of the leading executives at Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. As a managing director and senior vice president, Ms. Sanford, who works in Sedgwick's Dublin, Ohio, office, oversees the… → Read More