11:00 AM – 5:00
Kids’ Chance Fundraiser Golf Tournament at Shell Landing (lunch provided)
Tournament starts at 1:00 p.m.
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Exhibitors Set Up Magnolia Ballroom
11:00 AM – 6:30 PM
General Registration Registration Desk & Magnolia Foyer
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Speed Dating, Err We Mean Speed Learning Workers’ Comp Style, Part 1
Camellia Ballroom
Geared towards adjusters, attorneys, medical personnel, risk managers and safety professionals who are new to the world of workers’ compensation or just anyone who wants a refresher. Move about the room and join our qualified speakers from Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana for entertaining and informative discussions, speed dating game style, about the basics of workers’ compensation. Get your education and your steps! Topics discussed in the session are how to avoid litigation, mental/idiopathic claims, second injury fund, scheduled member claims, regulatory forms, initial investigation/choice of physician, total joint injuries, intoxication defense and hernias. Presenters for this two-part session are attorney Matt Hetzel (Wells, Marble & Hurst); attorney Scott Yoste (Markow Walker), staff attorney Megan Garrott (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission), attorney Jonathan Sholtis (Deakle, Sholtis & Hamil), nurse/claims professional Matt Davis (Case Experts), nurse case manager Cherry Roberts (AmFed), and attorney Jeremy England (Speed, Seta, Martin, Trivett, Stubley & Fickling).
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Break Magnolia Foyer
2:20 PM – 3:30 PM
Speed Learning, Worker’s Comp Style, Part 2
Camellia Ballroom
The final part of the speed learning game because there’s much more to learn and more steps to burn! Join the crew from Part 1 for presentations concerning bad faith/outrage, jurisdiction, body as a whole, injuries, utilization review, and death benefits.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Break Magnolia Foyer
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Managed Care in the Workers’ Compensation Claim
Sponsored by JMS Consulting, Inc.
Camellia Ballroom
Nurse case manager Mark Finn (Quantum Medical) moderates a conversation among attorney Tristan Armer (Heidelberg, Steinberger, Burrow and Armer), nurse case manager Christina Johnson (JMS Consulting, Inc.), attorney Garner Wetzel (James K. Wetzel & Associates), claims professional Matt Daughdrill (CCMSI) and risk management specialist Tina O’Keefe (Gold Strike Casino) regarding the use of managed medical care in the workers’ compensation claims.
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Reception Honoring MWCC Commissioners, Administrative Judges, Alabama And Louisiana Participants
Magnolia Ballroom
7:00 PM
Dinner on your own.
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration & Information Desks Open Magnolia Foyer
7:30 AM – 7:45 AM
Faith Based Claims Association Breakfast Azalea Foyer
Go through buffet and join the session
7:45 AM – 8:15 AM
Faith Based Program “Letting God Lead”
Azalea B, C, D
Inspirational speaker Ron Meyers (Ron Meyers Productions) presents a thought provoking talk regarding how good things happen when God is allowed to lead.
7:45 AM – 5:15 PM
Exhibit Hall Open Magnolia Ballroom
Exhibit Hall to remain open all day and not close during lunch.
7:45 AM – 8:15 AM
Continental Breakfast Magnolia Ballroom
served in the Exhibit Hall
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks Camellia Ballroom
Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission Chairman Mark Formby welcomes all to Conference 2023.
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Keynote Presentation “Grab the Rope: Using Laughter to Turn your Worst Moments into your Best!”
Sponsored by Corvel Corporation
Camellia Ballroom
Don’t let the trials and tribulations of life and work frustrate you into quitting! Award-winning and renowned illustrator Marshall Ramsey of Madison, Mississippi, provides a humorous and motivating lesson regarding how to succeed in work and life while “doing the right thing” despite the curveballs.
9:30 AM – 9:50 AM
Break Magnolia Ballroom
9:50 AM – 11:30 AM
A to Z the Amputee Part 1,The Medical
Camellia Ballroom
Attorney Hunter Horne (Wells, Marble & Hurst) moderates a discussion among professional psychologist Dr. Geralyn Datz (Southern Behavioral Medicine Associates), prosthetist Zachary Myrick (Buckner Prosthetics), pain management specialist Dr. Jeremy Smitherman (Mississippi Sports Medicine) and surgeon/hand specialist Dr. Eric Wegener (Plastic & Hand Surgery Associates) regarding the challenges and strategies for treating the mind and body of the amputee.
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Vendor Lunch served in Exhibit Hall. Magnolia Ballroom
Vendors are invited to attend the Conference Lunch with other attendees if preferred.
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Conference Lunch Magnolia Foyer
Enjoy a satisfying lunch and networking opportunity right outside the Exhibit Hall and classrooms with other attendees. Musical entertainment provided.
1:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Developing a Successful Return to Work Program
Camellia Ballroom
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Gandy (Medical Legal Consulting) moderates a discussion among neurosurgeon Dr. John Davis (NewSouth NeuroSpine), attorney Al Chadick (Steele & Chadick) and employer representative Cathy Garner (Harrison County School District) regarding work restrictions and how to avoid an unsuccessful return to work.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Case Law Update Breakout Sessions
A. Mississippi Case Law Update
Camellia Ballroom
Co-moderated by retired administrative law judge Hon. Deneise Lott (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission) and attorney Steve Funderburg (Funderburg, Sessums and Peterson), Mississippi Court of Appeals Judges Hon. Virginia Carlton, Hon. Anthony Lawrence and Hon. Joel Smith dissect some of the important decisions handed down over the past year concerning Mississippi workers’ compensation issues.
B. Alabama Case Law Update
Azalea A
Alabama licensed attorneys Matt Williams (Sanders & Williams) and Lauren Farrington (Sanders & Williams) review the reported decisions impacting workers’ compensation claims in Alabama over the past year and provide input and instruction as to appropriate responses to the case law developments for those practitioners who are handling Alabama claims.
C. Louisiana Case Law Update
Azalea B
Louisiana licensed attorneys Jeffrey Napolitano (Napolitano, Guilbeau, Ruli & Freeman), Matthew Putfark (Napolitano, Guilbeau, Ruli & Freeman) and Keith Pittman (Napolitano, Guilbeau, Ruli & Freeman) review the reported decisions affecting workers’ compensation claims handling in Louisiana over the past year or more and provide input and instruction as to appropriate responses to the case law developments for those practitioners who are handling Louisiana claims.
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Break Magnolia Foyer
3:50 PM – 4:50 PM Break Out Sessions
A. Mississippi Fee Schedule Update
Camellia Ballroom
The recent amendments to the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule are presented and discussed by nurse and fee schedule specialist Connie Mills (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission) and staff attorney Jeff Skelton (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission).
B. The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic upon Workers’ Compensation Claims
Sponsored by Morgan & Morgan, PLLC
Azalea A
Covid-19 changed the world. Moderated by administrative law judge Hon. Alan Goodman (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission), vocational rehabilitation specialist Ty Pennington (Pennington Vocational Services), vocational rehabilitation specialist Bruce Brawner (Brawner & Associates), attorney Christopher Neyland (Morgan & Morgan) and attorney Ginger Robey (McAngus, Goudelock & Courie) discuss the impact of Covid-19 upon claims upon workers’ compensation including changes to the labor market, wages, and wage loss claims, if any, have resulted from the Pandemic.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Reception Event Deck – Rain Location: Magnolia Foyer and Azalea
6:30 PM
Dinner on your own.
Exhibit hall to remain open through the break Friday morning at 10:15 AM.
7:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Exhibit Hall Open Magnolia Ballroom
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Continental Breakfast Magnolia Ballroom
8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Registration & Information Desks Open Registration Desk & Magnolia Foyer
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Ethics for All: Avoiding Errors Caused by Burnout, Neglect, Frustration, and Systematic Difficulties
Camellia Ballroom
Attorney Gary Jones (Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell) moderates a discussion among attorney Adam Kilgore (Mississippi Bar Association), claims professional Nancy Kees (CCMSI) and professional psychologist Dr. Angela Koestler (The Nordal Clinic) regarding work frustration, errors of simple neglect as well as suggestions to cope with systematic frustration.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Robotic v. Conventional Knee Replacements
Sponsored by Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists
Camellia Ballroom
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Noblin (Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists) compares the pros and cons of conventional versus robotic knee replacement surgery.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Break Magnolia Foyer
Obtain continuing education forms and check out of hotel rooms.
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Kids’ Chance of Mississippi Update
Camellia Ballroom
Attorney Jim Anderson (Anderson, Crawley & Burke/President, Kids’ Chance of MS, Inc.) provides an update regarding the awarding of scholarships as well as the activities of the Kids’ Chance of Mississippi Board.
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
A -Z the Amputee Part 2, The Legal
Camellia Ballroom
Attorney Catherine Bell (McAngus, Goudelock & Courie) moderates a panel including Commissioner Beth Harkins (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission), attorney Steve Funderburg (Funderburg, Sessums & Peterson), nurse/claims professional Matt Davis (Case Experts) and claims professional Brandon Moore (AmFed) in a discussion of the settlement valuation, negotiation, and approval of amputation claims.
11:45 AM
Door prizes Camellia Ballroom
Must be present to win.