BUDDY UP IN THE WCC COMMUNITY
(Editor's Note: This newsletter introduced you to WorkCompCentral Community last month, and we explained how to set up your profile. Now that you have a profile, it's time to create Groups.)
Why are we talking about Community in the Education Newsletter? Because by using Community you can drastically increase your learning experience in two ways: 1) by leveraging the knowledge of others attending your courses and, 2) by networking with those students since you share common goals.
The way that you leverage your experience is by setting up or joining Groups.
There are two basic types of Groups: Content Groups and Purchasing Groups. We're going to focus just on Content Groups for now.
A Content Group allows fellow group members to share WorkCompCentral content with each other in a private setting - only those people whom you invite to a group have access to the content, and more importantly, the discussions and comments concerning that content.
This is particularly important to education because the instructor and students can have a more personal experience - everyone has the benefit of a communal relationship as in a classroom setting, but without the constrictions of time and place!
For instance, there may be a Content Group established for one of the upcoming Mike Sullivan webinars on SB 863 (and if you haven't signed up for this series you are definitely missing out on some of the most comprehensive and organized scholarly assessments of the bill applicable to the daily practice of California workers' compensation claims handling and litigation).
Webinars, though over the Internet, are limited in time and space - there are only so many "seats" available in the "classroom." And once the webinar is over any chance at asking the instructor questions now, or what may come up later, is gone. Even if you ask a question personally, everyone else misses the benefit of that education. And, no one in the webinar knows who else is attending, which means everyone is missing out on a huge networking opportunity.
So let's start a Content Group!
Once you have logged in to WorkCompCentral click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the web page. That will take you to your Community Control Panel page. The Control Panel page defaults to your profile edit tab, but the second tab over is Groups.
Clicking on the Groups tab will show the Groups you have created and have joined - we're assuming you have nothing in your page because you haven't established or joined any Groups.
Let's create a group!
On the left vertical menu on the Groups tab you'll see "Groups I've Created" - which should have nothing under it except a button, "Create a Group," (unless you're way ahead of us here).
Create a Group by clicking on that button. The left vertical menu will expand and a field will appear in which you can name the Group.
For purposes of this exercise we've named a group "Sullivan on SB 863" - next click "Create". The main page will grey out and a menu choice will appear offering you the opportunity to establish this as a Content Group or a Purchasing Group - click on Content Group.
Success!! You have just created a Content Group. If you click on the name of that Group in the vertical menu, an information page will appear where you can input all sorts of information concerning that group, just like you would with a Profile so that people searching in WorkCompCentral can find the Group.
LEGISLATOR GROUP WORKING ON PHYSICIAN DISPENSING MODEL
State lawmakers looking at physician dispensing of repackaged drugs and possible model legislation will resume their efforts when the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) meets in November.
NCOIL is comprised of state lawmakers involved with insurance issues. The organization develops model legislation which states may enact.
The committee expects to revisit physician dispensing at NCOIL’s meeting on Nov. 15-18 in Point Clear, Ala., according to Arkansas State Rep. Barry Hyde, chairman of the committee.
States with current or pending price caps on physician-dispensed medications are California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi and South Carolina.
MOBILE APP RELEASED FOR 2012 NATIONAL SHOW IN VEGAS
The National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference & Expo has released a free mobile app, NWCDC 12, for the Nov. 7-9 event in Las Vegas. The app is available for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android devices. The NWCDC 12 Mobile App is useful in a number of ways: lists session times, networking events, expert speakers and various exhibitors. Using the Scheduling feature, attendees can build a personalized agenda by selecting sessions, panels and conference events that appeal to them. This feature also helps easily coordinate meetings with other attendees and exhibitors.The app can be downloaded for free in the Apple Store and Android Market, plus a web-based version is also available on http://www.wcconference.com/app.html.
WEBINAR ABOUT REFORM BILL 863 ON YOUTUBE
The program - "Sullivan on 863: The Overview" - runs approximately 90 minutes and includes questions sent in to attorneys and brothers Mike and Bart.
Here is the direct link to the program.
Because the reform bill makes significant changes, even those who were on the Friday webinar a week ago may want to review it on YouTube.
E-BILLING AND STATE MANDATES COVERED IN NEXT FREE WEBINAR
Lost in all of the talk about lien reform and now SB 863 is an approaching deadline for electronic medical billing compliance in California. Under California Labor Code Section 4603.4, claims administrators by Oct. 18 are required to accept electronic bills and may develop their own capacity to accept electronic bills or may contract with a vendor to perform the function. Medical providers are not required to e-bill, though they may elect to do it voluntarily.
Tune in Friday, Oct. 5 to a free continuing-education webinar about e-billing led by Marc Menendez. Marc is president and CEO of WorkCompEDI, a clearinghouse for medical bills in workers' comp, auto and personal injury. Bring your questions to ask him on the webinar.
One CE hour is available for California Claims Professionals and California licensed attorneys. Registration is done online.
IN THE NEWS ...
Nation - CMS Facing Set-Aside Backlog after Switch in Review Contractors: 09/20/12
Calif. - SB 863 Signed, Working Groups for Regs Forming: 09/19/12
Calif. - New Organization Plans to Challenge Constitutionality of Filing Fee: 9/18/12
Maryland - IWIF Negotiating Final Payment in Running Battle over Set-Asides: 09/17/12
Nevada - High Court: Bartender's Tips Should be Included in Wage Calculation: 09/17/12
Florida - Outpatient Fee Schedule Lawsuit Results in Discovery Dispute: 09/14/12
Louisiana - Qmedtrix Faces Counter-Claim after Challenging FairPay Settlement: 09/13/12
New York - Assessments Nearly 5 Times the National Average: 09/11/12
New York - SWCB Rolls Out Long-Awaited Fee Schedule for Pharmacy and DME: 09/07/12
California - Moran Steps Down as Head of DWC: 09/07/12
South Carolina - Commission Puts Fee Changes on Hold to Await Legal Opinion: 09/06/12
HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS BUYING SCRIPNET
Healthcare Solutions announced it will acquire work comp pharmacy benefit manager ScripNet. ScripNet has a strong market share in the Southwest, with a long-term relationship with Texas Mutual, the dominant insurer in Texas.
YOU ARE INVITED TO AN INDUSTRY "REFORM" PARTY
We are throwing a holiday party on Saturday, Dec. 1 in Orange County that will feature speakers, awards, raffles, entertainment, networking and continuing-education credits. The venue is the Business Expo Center, off the I-5 in Anaheim near Anaheim Stadium.
Come out and meet the WorkCompCentral staff, put a name with face, and catch the latest reform buzz in the industry, including the 2013 reforms.
Tickets are $75 for WorkCompCentral subscribers, $95 for non-subscribers. Your first cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage is included. Vendor tables are available for $250 each; Because this is a party so vendors can decorate a booth space with a holiday theme.
Call Rob McCarthy, marketing director for WorkCompCentral, 805-484-0333, ext. 121 with questions. Branding Director Christina Childers can take vendor table reservations now. She's at 805-484-0333, ext. 126.
Watch for an official announcement soon about this December event.
