state of california division of workers’ compensation · 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. breakout sessions...

State of CaliforniaDivision of Workers’ Compensation

The 24th Annual Educational Conference

Los Angeles Airport Marriott February 23 - 24, 2017Oakland Marriott City Center March 2 - 3, 2017

In association with the International Workers’ Compensation Foundation,a non-profit corporation dedicated to workers’ compensation research and education

Serving the People of California Since 1911.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GOLD SPONSORS

DWC 24th Annual Educational Conference

Division of Workers’ Compensation

Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Credits are available at the registration counter

This conference is held in cooperation with the International Workers’Compensation Foundation, Inc. (A non-profit organization)


Day 1 February 23, 2017 Los Angeles

March 2, 2017 Oakland

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration

12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Welcome/General Session

1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Reception – No Host Bar

5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CC&R Band (Los Angeles Only)

DWC 24th Annual Educational Conference


Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Credits are available at the registration counter

This conference is held in cooperation with the International Workers’Compensation Foundation, Inc. (A non-profit organization)


Day 2 February 24, 2017 Los Angeles

March 3, 2017 Oakland

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions

24th Annual DWC Educational Conference

Los Angeles Airport Marriott – February 23 – 24, 2017

Day 1

Marquis 1-2-3

Marquis 4-5-6

Meridian

Imperial D-E-F

9:30 - 12:30 PM

Registration – Ballroom Lobby

12:30 - 1:00 PM

Welcoming/opening presentation - Acting Administrative Director George Parisotto

Marquis Ballroom

1:00 - 2:00 PM

DWC Update

Hersh & Parisotto

CIGA Update

Harrison

Case Law Update I

Kahn & Levy

WC Medical Fraud

Fudem & Snyder

2:15 - 3:15 PM

Rating Boot Camp: Lower

Extremities & Special Issues Concerning Cancer

Becker, Brown, Knight &

Rosen

Trending Topics in the

Audit Unit

Carmody, Robbins & Thill

Case Law Update II

Kahn & Levy

Is Legalized Pot a Drag on Workers’ Compensation?

Langille & Pew

3:30 - 4:30 PM

A Case Study Identifying

Rating Issues

Becker & Knight

Why Do Claims Go South

& How to Avoid It

Feinberg & Gean

Apportionment

(Note: 3:30 – 4:45)

Correio & Rosen

Top 10 Litigation Tips:

Common “Gotchas”

Casey, Levy & Spitzer

4:30 - 5:30 PM

Reception – No Host Bar

5:30 - 6:30 PM

CC&R – Live Entertainment – Century Pavilion



Day 2

Marquis 1-2-3

Marquis 4-5-6

Meridian

Imperial D-E-F

8:30 - 9:30 AM

Office of Self-Insurance Program Update

Asio-Booz

The High Cost of WC Benefit Delivery

Priven & Swedlow

Case Law Update I

Kahn & Levy

CSIMS “Medical Red Flags”

Cattolica, Dorsey, Lipper & Resnick

9:45 - 10:45 AM

CDI Audits of Carriers

Jay & Toth

Rating Boot Camp: Lower Extremities & Special Issues

Concerning Cancer

Becker, Brown, Knight & Rosen

Case Law Update II

Kahn & Levy

Why Do Claims Go South & How to Avoid It

Feinberg & Gean



Day 2

Atlanta/Boston

Chicago/Dallas

Meridian

Imperial D-E-F

11:00 – 12:00 PM



Casey, Levy & Spitzer


Cattolica, Dorsey, Lipper & Resnick

Utilization Review

Discussion

Feinberg & Parisotto

Lessons in Developing a

Positive WC Culture

Zachry

12:00 – 1:00 PM

LUNCH -- Marquis Ballroom

1:15 – 2:15 PM

MTUS including Formulary

Cortes, Meister & Schauer


Rating Issues

Becker & Knight

Apportionment

(Note: 1:15 – 2:30)

Correio & Rosen

Value of AI & Advanced

Analytics in ID & Reducing WC Fraud

Standish

2:30 – 3:30 PM


Cortes, Meister & Schauer (one-hour session repeated)

Where is the Market

Headed?

Bellusci, Sapiz, Shor & Tu

WCIS: Medical & FROI/SROI Data &

Reporting (Note: 2:45 – 3:30)

Daba & Gordon

WC Medical Fraud

Fudem & Snyder


Oakland Marriott City Center – March 2 – 3, 2017

Day 1

East Hall

Grand Ballroom

E-F-G-H

Junior Ballroom

Grand Ballroom

A-B-C-D

9:30 - 12:30 PM

Registration – Grand Ballroom Foyer

12:30 - 1:00 PM

Welcoming/opening presentation -- East Hall

Acting Administrative Director George Parisotto

1:00 - 2:00 PM

DWC Update

Hersh & Parisotto

CIGA Update

Harrison

Case Law Update I

Kahn & Levy

WC Medical Fraud

Fudem & Snyder

2:15 - 3:15 PM

Rating Boot Camp: Lower

Extremities & Special Issues Concerning Cancer

Becker, Carranza, Knight &

Rosen

Trending Topics in the

Audit Unit

Morita, Robbins, Skarakis & Thill

Case Law Update II

Kahn & Levy


Langille & Pew

3:30 - 4:30 PM


Rating Issues

Becker & Knight

Why Do Claims Go South

& How to Avoid It

Belsky & Feinberg

Apportionment

(Note: 3:30 – 4:45)

Correio & Rosen



Casey, Fudem & Harter

4:30 – 6:00 PM

Reception – East Hall

No Host Bar


Oakland Marriott City Center – March 2 – 3, 2017

Day 2

East Hall

Grand Ballroom A-B-C-D

Junior Ballroom

Grand Ballroom E-F-G-H

8:30 - 9:30 AM


Asio-Booz

The High Cost of WC Benefit

Delivery

Priven & Swedlow

Case Law Update I

Kahn & Levy


Bokarius, Cattolica, Dreyfuss & Morley

9:45 - 10:45 AM

CDI Audits of Carriers

Hrouda & Jay

Rating Boot Camp: Lower Extremities & Special Issues

Concerning Cancer

Becker, Carranza, Knight & Rosen

Case Law Update II

Kahn & Levy


Belsky & Feinberg

11:00 – 12:00 PM

Top 10 Litigation Tips: Common “Gotchas”

Casey, Fudem & Harter


Bokarius, Cattolica, Dreyfuss & Morley

Utilization Review Discussion

Feinberg & Parisotto

Value of AI & Advanced Analytics in ID & Reducing

WC Fraud

Standish

12:00 – 1:00 PM

LUNCH – West Hall

1:15 – 2:15 PM


Cortes, Meister & Schauer

A Case Study Identifying Rating Issues

Becker & Knight

Apportionment (Note: 1:15 – 2:30)

Correio & Rosen

WC Medical Fraud

Fudem & Snyder

2:30 – 3:30 PM


Cortes, Meister & Schauer (one-hour session repeated)

Where is the Market Headed?

Bellusci, Sapiz, Shor & Tu

WCIS: Medical & FROI/SROI Data &

Reporting (Note: 2:45 – 3:30)

Daba & Gordon

Lessons in Developing a Positive WC Culture

Zachry

A Case Study Identifying Rating Issues

A case will be examined that illustrates different rating issues and how these issues might be addressed. The issues will include choice of spine rating method and DRE category classification and appropriate use upper extremity strength impairment. Along the way rating mechanics and Almaraz/Guzman will be discussed. In other words the presentation will provide a good dose of basic rating mechanics along with a favorable addition of rating strategies.

Apportionment An in-depth case law update focusing on apportionment problem areas including overlap, range of medical evidence, pertinent cases, and petitions to reopen.

CDI Audits of Carriers Learn how the California Department of Insurance field claims and rating/underwriting bureaus conduct audits of carriers and claims administrators.

CIGA Update The California Insurance Guarantee Association assumes the claims responsibilities of member insurers who become insolvent. Learn more about this important program that serves as a safety-net for injured workers that is funded through assessments to insured policyholders.

CSIMS Medical Red Flags A panel of physicians from the California Society of Industrial Medical and Surgery will discuss ways to improve medical outcomes in workers’ compensation cases.

DWC Update Attendees will get a broad overview about the division’s upcoming regulations, forms, and processes as well as the status of recently adopted rules and regulations, from the passage of recent legislation.

High Cost of Workers’ Compensation Benefit Delivery

This discussion by principals from CWCI and Bickmore Risk Management Consulting will discuss the added frictional costs of benefit delivery in workers’ compensation.


With the 2016 passage of Proposition 64, voters approved the use of recreational marijuana in this state. This session will examine the intersection of workers’ compensation with medical and recreational marijuana laws in this state, other states, and the federal level.

Lessons in Developing a Positive Workers’ Compensation Culture

This session discuss the advantages of having clear communications among the parties and the importance of injured workers participating in the process. Major obstacles that block successful handling and resolution of cases will also be discussed.

Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) including Formulary

Learn about the latest updates and changes to the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule including regulation changes and proposed regulation changes. Information will be provided for effective treatment of certain injuries, including duration and extent of treatment.


The Office of Self Insurance Programs will provide an update on this program that covers 1 in 4 California workers. OSIP’s e-filing system, regulatory update, actuarial reporting requirements, the Self Insurer’s Security Fund and the Alternative Security Deposit program will be discussed.

Breakout Sessions


Breakout SessionsRating Boot Camp: Lower Extremities and Special Issues Concerning Cancer

The presentation will address the thirteen different methods for rating the lower extremity and how and when lower extremity impairments are combined.

Top Ten Litigation Tips: Common “Gotchas”

This panel of workers’ compensation judges and presiding judges will provide their perspectives and tips for effectively preparing a case for hearing.

Trending Topics in the Audit Unit

The AU will provide an in-depth explanation of the audit process and the basics for measuring a claims administrator’s timely provision of workers’ compensation benefits. In addition, the Audit Unit will address some common question from the industry.

Utilization Review This DWC moderated panel will discuss UR from the perspectives of an applicant’s attorney, defense attorney and treating physician.

The Value of Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Analytics in Identifying & Reducing Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Learn how fraud analytics programs can help detect bogus injury claims, fraudulent medical providers, and premium avoidance scams.

Where is the Market Headed?

This session will cover what is happening in the California workers’ compensation market from the perspectives of a broker, State Fund, the Department of Insurance, and the WCIRB.


This discussion will review cases that have already gone “bad” and provide mechanisms and management strategies using a biopsychosocial function restoration approach to achieve cost effect outcome.

Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update I & II

This two-hour session will review the most important case decisions issued in 2016. Some of the cases discussed involve the continuing interpretation and implementation of the SB 863 workers’ compensation reforms.

WCIS: Medical & FROI/SROI Data and Reporting

This session will highlight the new changes in the Workers’ Compensation Information System California Medical Version 2.0 and will present sample data collected using Version 2.0, and discuss the regulatory reporting changes in FROI/SROI.

Workers’ Compensation Medical Fraud

Where we are, where we are going and how to combat medical fraud from the perspective of a district attorney and associate chief judge including a discussion of SB 1160.


Please mark these dates for theDWC 25th Annual Educational Conference

LAX Marriott 2/12/2018 - 2/13/2018Oakland Marriott City Center 2/28/2018 - 3/1/2018

Lyn Asio-Booz is the Chief of the Office of Self-Insurance Plans. She joined the Office of Self-Insurance Plans in July, 2008 as the Northern California Audit Supervisor. Prior to that, she was an auditor for the DWC’s Audit Unit from 2004 through 2008. She also worked for the Uninsured Benefit Trust Fund for 10 years. She received an award for DWC Outstanding Employee of the Year in 1998, and for UEF Employee of the Year in 2000. She studied Molecular Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley from 1985 to 1990.

Annalisa J. Becker has been with the Division of Workers’ Compensation for 36 years. She has been a PD Evaluator with the Disability Evaluation Unit since 1988 and was appointed to the position of Northern California Area Supervisor in 2004.

Melvin Belsky, MD received his BA from California State University at Dominguez Hills and MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is the Medical Director for Corporate Workers’ Compensation for Safeway where he has created innovative programs for MPNs, functional restoration, and UR.

David Bellusci graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA and MA degrees. He began with Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau in 1989 where he is a Senior Vice-President and Chief Actuary. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Vladimir Bokarius, MD, PhD, LAC, QME practices psychiatry, addiction, geriatric psychiatry, addiction, geriatric psychiatry, pain medicine and psychopharmacology. Board certified in psychiatry and neurology, he received his MD from Kuban State Medical University.

Jane Brown has been a PD Evaluator with DWC Disability Evaluation Unit since 1998. She was promoted in 2016 as the Southern California Area Supervisor. Prior to working for DWC, she worked as a senior claims adjuster with State Compensation Insurance Fund for 7 years.

Kristin Carmody has been with the DWC Audit Unit since 2007. Prior to working for DWC, she worked for State Compensation Insurance Fund as a claims adjuster. Before working for SCIF, she was employed as a rehabilitation administrator for the law firm of Cantrell and Green. She has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Westmont College.

Joe Carranza graduated from California State University at Stanislaus with a Bachelor of Science. He began his state career with SCIF in 1987 as a claims adjuster and later as a vocational rehabilitation coordinator. He joined the Stockton Disability Evaluation Unit in 1997 as a Disability Evaluator and was promoted to Area Supervisor in 2011.

Colleen Casey has a BA degree from the University California Berkeley and JD from Golden Gate University. Her career in workers’ compensation began in 1995 as a Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Commissioner. In 2002 she entered private practice and returned to the state in 2004 as a Workers’ Compensation Judge in San Francisco. She was named Barrister of the year in 1989 by the San Francisco Bar Association.

Steve Cattolica holds a BS degree from the University of California and a teaching credential from St. Mary’s College. A former coach of nationally and internationally ranked swimmers, Steve is the legislative analyst for California Society of Industrial Medicine and Surgery and serves on a number of insurance committees and stakeholder task force groups.

Raymond F. Correio is a senior associate with the defense firm of Pearlman, Borska & Wax. Before joining the firm, Ray was a workers’ compensation judge assigned to both the Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey district offices for approximately twelve years. He was named defense attorney of the year by the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar in 2013 and is often used as a speaker at various workers’ compensation forums.


Presenters

John Cortes has a BA and JD from the University of California, Davis. He started his legal career in private practice before beginning his workers’ compensation career with State Compensation Insurance Fund as a subrogation attorney from 2001 to 2012. He transferred to the DIR/DWC as an Industrial Relations Counsel in the Spring of 2012.

Genet Daba received her MA Degree in Demography from Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. She worked as an Associate Expert in Demography for the United Nations and Analyst for the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population in Belgium. She joined the Division of Workers’ Compensation in 2000 and has worked in the Managed Care Unit, Medical Unit and now the Research Unit.

Richard Dorsey, MD is a qualified medical examiner and board certified in psychiatry. He received his MBA from the University of Cincinnati and MD from West Virginia University, Richard is President of Telepsychiatry and practices in Orange County.

Bruce Dreyfuss, MD graduated from Rosalind Franklin University/Chicago Medical School. He is board certified in rheumatology, internal medicine in Sun Jose.

Steven D. Feinberg, MD is a native of New York City and received his BA and MPH from UCLA, his MD from UC Irvine, and his MS in rehabilitation Medicine from the University of Washington. He is often used as an AME from his Palo Alto medical practice. He has received numerous professional awards, is the member of many medical societies and committees, and is the author or co-author of many publications.

Mark Fudem is an Associate Chief Judge working to improve EAMS. He received his BA from UC Berkeley and JD from McGeorge School of Law. Mark worked 23 years as an attorney in the private sector, and then was appointed a Workers’ Compensation Judge in Santa Rosa in 2004, Presiding Judge in Oakland in 2009 and his current position in 2011.

Constantine Gean, MD is Board Certified in Occupational Medicine, is on voluntary faculty in the Department of Medicine at UC Irvine and is a Regional Medical Director for Liberty Mutual. He is the lead author of The Pocket Drug Guide and The Index of Prescription Drugs, is Chair of the ACOEM Council on Education and Academic Affairs and is a past president of the Western Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association (WOEMA).

Terri Harrison is the Director of Workers’ Compensation for the California Insurance Guarantee Association. She has been with CIGA since 1993 and was an assistant claims manager for Alexisis Risk Management prior to that. A graduate of the University of Phoenix, Terri is an active in the Girl Scouts of American and American Youth Soccer Organization.

Joel Harter is Presiding Workers’ Compensation Judge of the Sacramento District Office. He received his JD from Santa Clara University and was an applicant attorney before the WCAB and the federal Office of Hearings and Appeals. His State career began in 1990 as a counsel for the reconsideration Unit which led to subsequent promotions as a settlement referee, judge, presiding judge, and Acting Associate Chief Judge over the Northern California district offices.

Alan Hersh is a staff counsel with the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Before joining DWC, he was judge with the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and had extensive experience as an attorney for public entities. He is a contributing author to California Public Sector Employment Law and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law.


Presenters

Katherina Hrouda is a Senior Insurance Rate Analyst for the California Department of Insurance. She studied Economics at the University of California, Riverside and upon graduation began working for the insurance industry. She started working in the Department’s Market Conduct Division in January 2007.

Mark Kahn graduated from Cal State Northridge (BA) and Southwestern Law School (JD). He began his workers’ compensation career as a State Fund attorney in 1978. He has been a DWC Workers’ Compensation Judge (1981), Presiding Judge (1988), Assistant Chief (1992-1995), and Associate Chief Judge. Mark retired from the bench in 2012 and now works for Altman, Lunche & Blitstein.

Barry Knight has been the Disability Unit Manager since 2010. He began his insurance career as a commercial lines underwriter and claims adjuster for SCIF. Barry joined the Disability Evaluation Unit in 1990 working at the Fresno and Bakersfield district offices. He is a graduate from Fresno State with a degree in business administration.

Arthur Lipper, MD is a doctor primarily located in Beverly Hills, CA. He has 36 years of experience. His specialties include Internal Medicine. Dr. Lipper is affiliated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Miracle Mile Medical Center LLC and Southern California Hospital at Culver City.

Jennifer Lentz Snyder a 27 year veteran of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, currently serving as the Head Deputy of the Healthcare Fraud Division. In1997, Jennifer was named one of the top lawyers in the state by California Lawyer magazine. In 2011, Jennifer was again recognized as one of the top 100 Lawyers in California by the Daily Journal, California’s legal newspaper. An undergraduate of UCLA, Jennifer completed her JD degree at Pepperdine School of Law and is an adjunct professor teaching Sentencing and Corrections Law.

Clifford Levy received his BA from UC-Berkeley and JD from University of San Diego SOL. He began his career representing injured workers before the WCAB, Social Security, and the federal Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Act. He was appointed a workers’ compensation judge in 2005 and Presiding Judge in 2006.

Paige Levy is the Chief Judge of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Prior to this appointment she was a Workers’ Compensation Judge (2005) and Presiding Judge (2012) at the Marina Del Rey district office. Before taking the bench Paige was the managing partner of Levy & Associates representing employers and carriers. She has her BA from San Diego State University and JD from Whittier Law School, with honors, and was admitted to the bar the same year (1994).

Brendan Morley, MD is a board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. He received his MD from UCLA and is in private practice in the East Bay.

Raymond K. Meister, MD is a graduate of Cal State Sacramento (BA) and USC (MD). He has been associated with UC San Francisco’s School of Medicine as an instructor or professor since 1996 and was the Interim Medical Director of San Francisco General’s Occupational Health Service from 2011 to 2014. In 2014 he was appointed as the Associate Medical Director and in 2016 was named the Executive Medical Director of DWC’s Medical Unit.

Monserrat R. Morita is the Southern California Supervisor for the Audit Unit. A graduate of California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, her state career began in 2001 at State Compensation Insurance Fund as a Claims Adjuster. She transferred to the Audit Unit in June 2006.

George Parisotto is currently the Acting Administrative Director for the Division of Workers’ Compensation. He is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. George joined DWC as a staff counsel in 1998, and later rejoined the Division in 2007 after spending several years in Seattle, Washington, with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.


Presenters

Mark Pew is a Senior Vice President at Prium. He is an expert in workers’ compensation medical management, with a focus on prescription drug management. Areas of expertise include: abuse and misuse of opioids and other prescription drugs; managing prescription drug utilization and cost; and best practices for weaning people off dangerous drug regimens.

Mark Priven has successfully transitioned from high school nerd, to college geek, to actuary. He has worked as an actuary for 20 years, the last 15 with Bickmore, in which he has helped public and private self-insurers quantify and analyze their risk. He is on the WCIRB actuarial committee, a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, past-president of Casualty Actuaries of the Bay Area and has testified many times before committees in Sacramento.

Charles Resnick, MD is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and hand surgeon specializing in orthopedic and rehabilitation care to patients in the Greater Los Angeles area. He received his BS from Colgate and MD from USC

James Robbins received his BA degree from UC Santa Barbara, MPA from Golden Gate University and JD from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. His DIR career began in 1984 as an attorney in the Office of the Director’s Office. He transferred to DWC’s Legal Unit in 1990.

Jesse Rosen is an attorney for the Department of Industrial Relations in Los Angeles. He received his BA degree from BA from UCLA and JD from Loyola Law School.

Ellen Sims Langille is the General Counsel for the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI). She is a certified specialist in workers’ compensation and spent nearly 25 years as a defense workers’ compensation litigator specializing in appellate-level workers’ compensation cases. She received a double major undergraduate degree from UC Santa Cruz and her law degree from UC Hastings.

Gonzalo Sapiz is the Assistant Vice President of Safety and Health at Zenith Insurance. A graduate of UC San Diego and a Board Certified Safety Professional, Gonzalo has over 30 years of experience in loss control and risk management in senior and executive level positions.

Jacqueline Schauer is a graduate of UC Hastings College of the Law. She has been employed as legal counsel in the Department of Industrial Relations’ Office of the Director – Legal Unit from 1984-1991 and the Division of Workers’ Compensation Legal Unit since 1991.

Glenn Shor is currently Policy Advisor to the Director, Department of Industrial Relations. From 2010 to 2012, he was Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, US Department of Labor, in Washington DC. He has served in several managerial/executive positions with DWC including Project Manager, Chief of Policy and Legislation, and acting Research Manager. He is an affiliated researcher and lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Public Health, where he teaches a course on injury prevention and control. Glenn has a PhD and MA in Public Policy (MPP) from the Graduate School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, and a BA from University of Pennsylvania.

Mark Skarakis is a graduate of San Diego State University. His state service began as an EDD hearing representative. His DWC career has included stints as a UEF claims adjuster (1996-1998), Audit Unit compliance officer (1998-2002), SCIF adjuster (2002-2004), before rejoining the Audit Unit in 2004 where he currently works.


Presenters

David Jay is a Senior Insurance Compliance Officer for the Field of Claims Bureau of the California Department of Insurance where he has worked since 2004. Prior to joining the Department, he has worked for various insurance companies for over 20 years as a claims adjuster and reinsurance claims examiner.

Jamie Spitzer is the Presiding Judge of the Anaheim Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. She was a judge at this office from 2005 to 2012. Jaime’s law career began in 1992 where she was an attorney and later partner with Ufkes, Bright & Spitzer. A graduate of Cal State Fullerton, she earned her law degree at Whittier College.

John Standish is the Chief Analytics Officer for Infinilytics and is responsible for the smartC analytics solution for insurance and healthcare industries. He is a 32 year veteran of law enforcement with CHP and the Department of Insurance. He received his BA from the University of San Francisco.

Alex Swedlow is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. He joined CWCI in 2000 as the executive vice president of research and is the author of many articles on workers’ compensation.

Peggy Thill graduated from Cal State Northridge with a BA in Liberal Studies. She worked at State Fund for 26.5 years -14 as an adjuster, 8 years as a supervisor in the claims department and 4.5 years in the corporate claims department - the last 3 as the Claims Operations Manager. She came over to the Audit Unit as the northern supervisor in August 2015.

Andrea Toth began her career in the private sector and joined the California Department of Insurance (CDI) in 2001 as an Insurance Rate Analyst in the Field Rating and Underwriting Bureau. As Bureau Chief, Ms. Toth is responsible for managing and directing the work of field staff engaged in conducting examinations of the rating and underwriting practices of all insurers licensed in the state of California. She received the MCM designation from Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society and is a graduate of Pepperdine University.

Jerome Tu graduated from UCLA with a degree in Mathematics and Economics. He started his insurance career in the private sector and joined the Department of Insurance in 1990 as a Market Conduct examiner. He joined the Department’s Rate Regulation Branch in 2008 and is currently the Chief of the Rate Filing Bureau that reviews the Workers’ Compensation rate filings.

William Zachry is known throughout the risk management industry as a champion of workers’ compensation reform. Previously Bill served as group vice president of risk management for Safeway where his 15 years of leadership there earned him recognition as Business Insurance Risk Manager of the Year in 2014 and recipient of the California Coalition on Worker’s Compensation’s Tim East Award in 2016. Bill currently serves on the board of the State Compensation Insurance Fund and in 2017 he was awarded a senior fellowship at the Sedgwick Institute.

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state of california division of workers’ compensation · 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. breakout sessions...

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