Human resources and benefit managers will have excellent opportunities to demonstrate their expertise in 2018. The complexity of issues they address on a daily basis continues to grow and evolve. Federal, state, county and city laws that govern emp…

As I think back on the past week, I feel reaffirmed that we are better together. This week, the 5th Annual Comp Laude™ Awards and Gala celebrated the good things our industry does to help those experiencing a workplace injury or ill…

As our population and our workforces are changing, it is important to embrace the ideals of diversity and inclusion in the workplace today – people from different backgrounds, different generations, different cultures figuring out how they are bett…

Oh, how things change… I remember, growing up, the family dog slept outside in a dog house. Today, over 62% of our pets share our bed. Our pets are now considered part of the family  and we hold great emotional ties to them. Jump on a p…

The marine cargo industry has changed significantly over the past few decades, especially the way cargo is transported. Before sea containers were introduced, dry cargoes were usually shipped as break-bulk cargo or in bulk. Break-bulk cargo includes …

Claims administrators have an invaluable opportunity to help future pharmacists understand the challenges regarding prescription drug use for occupational injuries. A pharmacist intern program, like the one we offer at Sedgwick, can provide ex…

Sedgwick routinely reminds clients and colleagues about the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. The next Take Back Day will be this Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. In 2010, the DEA st…

Fostering awareness in the complex world of prescription drugs It is vital for a claims administrator to have pharmacists on staff because the current reality in workers’ compensation injury care is that prescription drug activity is a dangerous and…

One of the most profound lessons I learned from implementing a workers’ compensation alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program was how employers could use a simple process to help reduce their litigation rate. As I’ve seen in my own experience …

In recent years, some innovative healthcare leaders and organizations have developed and implemented formal communication and resolution programs (CRPs) that, when combined with advances in patient safety, exemplify fairness and build trust. The inte…

Over the past several months there have been direct communications from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that liability Medicare set-aside arrangements (LMSAs) were on the horizon. In this blog we commented on a February announcemen…

Methadone is an opioid medication most commonly used for detoxification, maintenance treatment of opioid addiction, and limited use for chronic pain. The drawbacks to its use stem from the risk of addiction and abuse with the medication, even at reco…

Many business owners make assumptions about what is included under their property policy. Property policies are designed to cover damage to equipment caused by external means; however, in the case of an internal malfunction, are you covered? Equipm…

On September 1, CMS hired Capitol Bridge, LLC to be the new review contractor for MSAs. According to CMS employees that we’ve spoken to, the transition is currently underway. The old contractor is staying on for an indeterminate amount of time to h…

A portrait of opioid use disorder Read part one of Rachel's story here. Rachel was once a vibrant gardener, grandmother and worker. Regrettably, following an injury, she became one of a growing number of those suffering from opioid use disorder (…