Podcast

How PTSD is Affecting Return to Work

… Timely and effective return-to-work is the goal of all workers’ comp professionals. Yet, despite the growing concern of post-traumatic stress disorder in the industry, too many injured employees at risk for PTSD … impact on injured employees and delay return to work. Mariellen Blue, Genex national director of case management services, joins us to talk more about this issue in today’s Inside Workers’ … : Mariellen, can you start by helping us better understand what PTSD is and why it’s sometimes an issue in workers' comp? …
Article

WC injuries in a new and inexperienced workforce

… We recently met with Anne Levins, our Senior Vice President of Product Strategy & Analytics at Coventry, to talk about the boom in employee turnover in 2020 … : There’s a lot of buzz right now about employee turnover. What can you tell me about that? … : It’s been on the rise for years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was 42.3% in 2015 and crept up year by year to 45% in 2019. And then it …
Article

What Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications May Mean for Auto Insurers and Collision Repair Facilities

… real-time, dynamic information. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications systems are composed of devices that use dedicated short-range radio communication (DSRC) to communicate messages with … enables vehicles to wirelessly exchange information about their speed, position and direction of travel. 2 Watch how V2V technology provides drivers with a warning of a potential crash through 360-degree awareness of similarly equipped vehicles within …
Article

The rising retirement rate is changing the U.S. workforce

… The average number of baby boomers who retire from the U.S. work force has been slowly growing over the last 10 … health before vaccines were available. They may have suffered through the illness or took care of loved ones who were sick. Some lost family or friends. Many baby boomers who were already … disrupted the supply chain and inflated prices. - Loss of talent and expertise: Baby boomers account for a huge percentage of the U.S. workforce, and their approaching retirement was already …
Author

Dr. Mitch Freeman, Pharm.D.

… for the strategic direction for the clinical product and programs and leads the division’s account management organization. Dr. Freeman has been recognized as a leader in innovative … study on Enlyte’s Opioid Reduction Program was recently featured in the peer-reviewed Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Freeman has more than twenty years of P&C industry experience and is a graduate of Florida A&M University where he received his …
Article

Out-of-Network Dispensing Channels and Their Unique Challenges

… Join Tom Kerr as he interviews Nikki Wilson, Senior Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services to dive deeper into part two of our annual drug trends series . In this short video they will discuss aggregate trends and challenges within our combined in- and out-of-network channels to address the total view of prescription activity. … report. I’m Tom Kerr, and today we'll be featuring key trends within our combined in- and out-of-network channels to address the total view of prescription activity. The trend data we'll be …
Author

Vicki Dunbar

… Dunbar received her Associate Degree in Health Information Technology in 1994, a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Health Information Manager in 2021, and is a Registered Health Information Administrator through the American Health Information Management Association. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in Health Information Management with coding certifications in both CPT and ICD, …
Blog

Price Opportunists - Compound Kits and Combo Packs

… that are conveniently packaged together for sale with a common therapeutic purpose. Both of these product categories present challenges to the workers’ compensation industry because they … scripts per claim) in each of the last 5 years and overall use of both categories continues to account for less than 1% of total script volume and costs. However, this past year did see an increase in cost per script due to a shift in mix of compound kits used. This includes the …
Blog

Specialty Medication Trends in 2018

… market with new ways to develop medications. Specialty medications continue to be a major area of pharmaceutical development and have become widely discussed in workers’ comp due to their significant costs. Although they represent approximately 1% of drug utilization, they account for nearly 7% of prescription drug costs and represent the fastest-growing segment of the …
Article

Michigan Auto No-Fault Reform: History and Overview

… Michigan recently passed Senate Bill 1, along with a variety of other legislation, that together will overhaul the Michigan auto no-fault system. The new … casualty insurance market in Michigan. In this article, I will walk you through the history of auto insurance in Michigan and provide an overview of the new Michigan no-fault reform regulations. … History of Michigan’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Law … in an accident, they are required to file a claim with their own insurance carrier regardless of if they caused the accident or not. In 1978, the state legislature amended the no-fault law to …
Article

Is Your Collision Repair Facility Ready for Electric Vehicles?

…   By 2022, owning an electric vehicle will be as cheap as owning one that runs on fossil fuels, and sales will grow … by 2023. VW plans to build 22 million electric cars in ten years. Daimler plans to offer an electrified variant for every model in its portfolio. According to a recent report from … and sales will grow much more quickly.” 1 While EVs still represent a very small percentage of the overall market, the collision repair industry must anticipate electric and hybrid vehicles …
Podcast

New Trends in Opioids and Pain Management

… On today’s podcast, we’ll be discussing part 3 of Enlyte’s Drug Trends Report . The information for this section focuses on the opioid … data billed through Enlyte Pharmacy Solutions in 2022 and 2023 where both in-network and out-of-network prescriptions were available for analysis. Talking with me today is the lead author of that report Nikki Wilson. Nikki, thanks for joining us. … in opioid utilization and spend, along with continued reductions in MED. Let’s talk about some of the medications behind those numbers that were driving the activity within the class. …
White Paper

A Personalized Approach to High-MED Opioid Management

… Successful opioid management includes a tailored strategy that takes into account: Each injured worker’s current medication regimen The patient’s medical history and … adding greater controls for higher risk patients. 1. Prospective Utilization Review: Trigger of thorough clinical review if custom MED levels were surpassed 2. Retrospective Utilization Review: Comprehensive review of high risk patients and development of clinical plan, often including prescriber intervention …
Article

Navigating AI and Claim Handling in 2026

… For claims professionals, 2026 marks a pivotal year for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Claims administration has shifted from an efficiency tool to a highly scrutinized regulatory topic. The legislative arena is a complex blend of uniform guidance from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ( NAIC ), … full accountability for AI acquired third-party tools, ensuring due diligence, and inclusive of audit rights. This principles-based approach provides a common regulatory baseline, helping to …
Podcast

Quality Assurance in Case Management

…   Quality assurance is a vital part of any workers’ comp claim. No more so than in case management, where details and communication … encourages professional certification by their case managers. This is another layer of case manager commitment to the career of case management. And there are several well‑known and recognized case management … are driven by Genex's best practice policies and procedures. These also include CMSA standards of practice, URAC standards, not to mention state and jurisdictional medical and vocational …
White Paper

Opioid Overdose Prevention and Treatment

… Kidney or liver problems Population > Middle-aged adults More men than women Whites and American Indian or Alaska Natives People in rural areas Residents of states with higher sales and non-medical use of prescription painkillers Medication > Starting or switching to new opioids Extended-release or …
CE Webinar

Post-Covid Conundrum

… contracted and survived the COVID-19 virus. While many thought they had weathered the worst of the pandemic when their symptoms abated, researchers claim as many as one-third of this group continue to experience long-term symptoms since onset, despite the severity of their initial diagnosis. The uncertainty of long-haul COVID is leaving many workers’ comp …
Article

New York Workers' Compensation Board says NO to Medicare hold harmless language in Section 32 Waiver Agreements

… to indemnify and hold the carrier harmless for any payment made by Medicare for treatment of claimant’s work-related injuries (conditional payments) prior to the execution of the Section … of the claimant’s failure to safeguard the funds in a self-administered Medicare set-aside account established pursuant to the agreement. The Board indicated that it believes these hold harmless provisions to be unfair, unconscionable and without place in an agreement settling a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The current publication of …
Article

New York Workers' Compensation Board says NO to Medicare hold harmless language in Section 32 Waiver Agreements

… to indemnify and hold the carrier harmless for any payment made by Medicare for treatment of claimant’s work-related injuries (conditional payments) prior to the execution of the Section … of the claimant’s failure to safeguard the funds in a self-administered Medicare set-aside account established pursuant to the agreement. The Board indicated that it believes these hold harmless provisions to be unfair, unconscionable and without place in an agreement settling a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The current publication of …
News Release

CDC Updates and Replaces Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids

… The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an updated and expanded recommendation for clinicians prescribing opioids for outpatients over 18 … for acute pain New guidance on subacute pain Health equity and disparities in the treatment of pain The CDC’s recommendations do not apply to pain related to cancer, sickle cell disease or … approach we take in developing our programs. We work to incorporate best practices from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), the Official Disability …
Article

Automation Glossary: Need-to-Know Terminology for Property & Casualty Claims Organizations and Collision Repair Facilities

… staying up-to-date on the latest automation technologies is key to understanding the future of the P&C industry. To help demystify the latest technology advancements, we’ve put together an automation-focused glossary of key terms. Click on the links below each section to see where automation technologies have … however, the two terms are intrinsically different. Yet with the increased complexity of automated systems, artificial intelligence is quickly becoming embedded within automated …
News Release

Mitchell Expands Support for EVs Through Industry-First Data Licensing Agreement with Rivian

… Mitchell, an Enlyte company, today announced that it is the first collision industry information provider … TruckMax to write damage appraisals and access repair procedures for the OEM’s full line-up of passenger and commercial vehicles: the R1T, R1S and Electric Delivery Van (EDV). Rivian, which … electric vehicles in 2021, has ramped production aggressively throughout 2022 onwards. As of Q1 2023, Rivian has manufactured more than 34,000 passenger and commercial vehicles and looks …
Article

Reflections, Predictions and Gratitude from Enlyte Experts as 2021 Comes to a Close

… As the holidays approach and 2021 winds to an end, it’s natural that we each reflect upon the events of the past year and take stock of where we’ve been, and where we’re going.  In the spirit of the season, a few of the product … to evolve, creating new problems to solve over time.  We certainly saw this with the effects of the pandemic in 2021.  While we were able to put the initial phases of the pandemic behind us, …
News Release

Enlyte Drug Trend Report: Migraine Med Use Soars in Comp Despite Overall Drop in Scripts

… and topicals are gaining ground as alternatives to pain management, according to part 1 of Enlyte’s 2025 Drug Trends Report , issued today. Each year, Enlyte researchers analyze drug … of opioid usage in workers’ comp, which decreased by 7.8% in 2024. However, opioids remain the top-prescribed drug class in 2024, followed by NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and … in workers’ comp. Enlyte’s data shows that claims open for more than two years account for 92.1% of the total drug spend, while those open 0-1 years account for less than 8%. …
Blog

WHY USE ANTICONVULSANTS TO TREAT PAIN?

… A fuller awareness of the risks, costs, and consequences of opioid medication use in clinical pain management is … a measure of effective analgesia (without craving, tolerance, and addiction) is taking on an increased priority in discovery laboratories and across the ranks of practicing clinicians and … is not supported by an expert guideline, such as the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) or American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), or other credible evidence …
Article

Pain Management and Opioid Recovery

…     Working together to prevent, manage, and ultimately mitigate the risk of adverse outcomes The opioid crisis has taken a grievous toll on the health of many Americans dealing with work-related injuries. Knowing as much as possible about the risks of opioid therapy allows for the most effective and efficient interventions available. Opioid …
Article

Modernizing Claims Management: Streamlining Workflows With Integrated Negotiation Solutions

… Negotiation Solutions Conventionally, the process of settling bodily injury claims entails a period of waiting—waiting for the injured individual to conclude their medical treatments and compile … adjusters settle a claim accurately, quickly and efficiently. Integrating PrecisionDirect into an adjuster’s workflow introduces a path to give adjusters their time back. Enlyte owns the … Modify the Release of Liability Contract: …
Article

10 Work From Home Tips During COVID-19 for Insurance Professionals

… The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world in the blink of an eye. Our economy, our social lives and even our jobs are immensely different today than they … we are all searching for ways to make this experience more bearable, even productive. And on top of that, in the insurance industry, we are also trying to figure out how to keep our … in working from home is effective communication. One study found that only seven percent of communication is verbal. So what makes up the rest of our communication? It’s body language, …