11:00 AM – 5:00
PM 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
11:00 AM – 6:30 PM
General Registration
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Speed Dating, Err We Mean Speed Learning Workers’ Comp Style, Part 1
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, vocational rehabilitation, intoxication defense, and hernias. Presenters for this 2-part session are attorney Matt Hetzel (Wells, Marble & Hurst); attorney Scott Yoste (Markow Walker), staff attorney Megan Garrott (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission), attorney Jonathon Sholtis (Deakle, Sholtis & Hamil), nurse/claims professional Matt Davis (Case Experts) and nurse case manager Cherry Roberts (AmFed).
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Break
2:20 PM – 3:30 PM
Speed Learning, Worker’s Comp Style, Part 2
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
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Managed Care in the Workers’ Compensation Claim
Nurse case manager Mark Finn (Quantum Medical) moderates a conversation among attorney Tristan Armor (Heidelburg, Steinberger, Colmer & Burrow), attorney Garner Wetzel (James K. Wetzel & Associates), claims professional Rosemary McClendon (Mississippi Municipal Service Company), 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
Exhibit Hall
7:00 PM
Dinner on your own.
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration & Information Desks Open
7:30 AM – 7:45 AM
Faith Based Claims Association Breakfast
Go through buffet and join the session
7:45 AM – 8:15 AM
Faith Based Program “Letting God Lead”
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 Exhibit Hall to remain open all day and not close during lunch.
7:45 AM – 8:15 AM
Continental Breakfast served in the Exhibit Hall
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM
Welcome and Introductions
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Keynote Presentation “Grab the Rope: Using Laughter to Turn your Worst Moments into your Best!”
Don’t let the trials and tribulations of life and work frustrate you into quitting! Laugh and grab a rope! 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
9:50 AM – 11:30 AM
A to Z the Amputee Part 1, The Medical
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 (Face and Body Center) 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. Vendors are invited to attend the Conference Lunch with other attendees if preferred.
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Conference Lunch
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
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Gandy (Medical Legal Consultation) moderates a discussion among physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Rahul Vohra (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
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. David McCarty, 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
Alabama licensed attorneys Matt Williams (Sanders & Williams) and Laura 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
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
3:50 PM – 4:50 PM
Break Out Sessions
A. Mississippi Fee Schedule Update
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), staff attorney Jeff Skelton (Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission), and a Fair Health representative.
B. The Effect of the Covid 19 Pandemic upon Workers’ Compensation Claims
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 on workers’ compensation claims, including changes to the labor market, wages and wage loss claims, that may have resulted from the Pandemic.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Reception
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
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Registration & Information Desks Open
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Ethics for All: Avoiding Errors Caused by Burnout, Neglect, Frustration, and
Systematic Difficulties
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
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Noblin (Bienville Orthopedic) compares the pros and cons of conventional versus robotic knee replacement surgery.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Break Obtain continuing education forms and check out of hotel rooms.
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Kids’ Chance of Mississippi Update
Attorney Jim Anderson provides an update regarding the award 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
Attorney Catherine Bell (McAngus, Goudelock & Courie) moderates a panel including Commissioner Beth Harkins (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission), attorney Dave Peterson (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 Must be present to win.