Conference

Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show and Conference 2023

… Trade Show & Conference  assembles the five active Midwest state associations to deliver an exclusive trade show for business owners, managers and staff. This year, the show will highlight the year of the technician, providing hands-on projects and training for collision repair technicians. There will be an education series taught by top vendors and iconic national presenters to inform participants on topics such as online …
Conference

The SEMA Show 2018

… events, networking opportunities and more. Mitchell will once again be attending SEMA as an exhibitor with an interactive exhibit booth, which can be found in the North Hall. Those visiting Mitchell’s booth will have the opportunity to be one of the first to demo the latest Mitchell solutions for the repair industry. We look forward to …
Blog

Opioid Risk Mitigation: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Naloxone

… This week in our in-depth review of our Coventry Drug Trends series, part three, we focus on opioid risk mitigation strategies. While opioids continue to decline in workers’ compensation as both a percentage of total script volume and costs, it remains vital to promote evidence-based strategies such as … MAT is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, which is effective in the …
Article

Premiums Written: Q2 2019 Quarterly Must Read Round-Up

… Each quarter, I round up and highlight some of my favorite articles written by Mitchell experts and let you know where we have been published outside of our mPower thought leadership website. This quarter, I’m excited to share a podcast that I did with InsuranceJournal TV that’s all about how technology is making an impact on the workers’ compensation industry. Below I’ve included a link to the podcast and a …
News Release

Passion for Consumer Safety Drives JDM Collision, a GM Network Facility

… As a GM Master Repair Technician, John D. Melendez, president and owner of JDM Collision, understands the importance of following OEM procedures for a proper and safe repair. John's passion for collision repair started at an early age. Working alongside his dad, he took a liking to repairing the GM vehicles that came … Propelling to the Next Level of Collision Repair … as a proper repair center that truly has the consumers' best interest at heart.” The process of joining the network and meeting the CORE program requirements was straightforward for JDM. The …
Article

Frequency and Severity Trends in Auto Claims

… In late 2018, three of the largest auto insurers in the United States reported decreased frequency and increased … The Rise and Fall of Frequency … After a year-over-year increase from 2013–2017, the Insurance Information Institute identified an overall weakening trend of the collision paid claim frequency rate in 2018. At the same time, there has been a lessening … claims frequency has the potential to decline even further with the widespread adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in modern cars. The Insurance Institute for Highway …
Article

Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace Using the Case Manager Approach

… traditionally been considered a pariah in workers’ compensation claims management. The old way of thinking is that when psychological issues enter the picture, claim costs spin out of control and return-to-work delays soar. That perception has gradually diminished over the past … factors such as isolation, post-traumatic stress and depression can incur following an injury and during recovery, the fact is, a good number of injured employees come into the …
Article

Kids’ Chance: Why it Matters

… 21 years ago, I was working for a TPA as a claims adjuster. I got to see firsthand the impact of a serious work injury or death and the effect that that had on the family. At a time when such … can really step in and help to provide some financial support for education, and put some of those children through their scholarship program. … I participate with Kids' Chance in volunteering some of my time and promoting and supporting some of their local events in Pennsylvania and Maryland. …
Article

2021 Auto Casualty Predictions: Automation, Miles Driven and More

… The past year has been unprecedented—and unpredictable—but through all of the uncertainty, a few patterns have emerged in the auto casualty insurance industry. As we … and pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our experts foresee many will shift from an adjuster-driven claims workflow to exception-based processing, looking to automate the … make this happen, carriers will continue to focus on data analytics, as this is the foundation of a successful automation strategy. Traditional technologies, like rules engines , will continue …
Article

Ask The Pharmacist: Understanding Morphine Equivalent Dose (MED) for Adjusters

… potencies, a common measurement helps you compare “apples to apples.”  For example, 5 mg of oxycodone is not equal to 5 mg of morphine in terms of pain relief or risk potential. Converting all opioids to a total daily MED helps clarify the … Higher MED levels are associated with increased risks of adverse effects, including respiratory depression, overdose and dependency. … MED helps track whether an individual’s pain management plan follows current safety guidelines. …
Podcast

Robocop Talks About Run for Sheriff and Upcoming NWCDC Session

…   In this edition of Workers’ Comp, we catch up with “Robocop” Romero who talks about his run for county sheriff … Ofc. Jeremy Romero, a New Mexico police officer who sustained a spinal cord injury in the line of duty. The video, “The Rise of a Real-Life Robocop,” chronicled Jeremy’s return to work with the help of an exoskeleton device which allows him to walk. On Dec. 7 at the National Workers’ Comp and …
White Paper

Substance Misuse Recovery Network

… Misuse For all the progress our nation has made in reducing opioid prescriptions, misuse of these powerful analgesics remains an intractable problem. And while much work remains, the health care system has grown more adept … hard-won lessons, borne from wearisome experience, are particularly relevant in the treatment of injured workers, who often face the dual challenge of requiring assistance with an opioid use …
Article

Key Trends in Big Data for Property & Casualty Industries

… routine process to artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision making. One thing most of these digital transformations have in common is that they all rely on the effective gathering and management of big data. The property and casualty industry has always thrived on capturing, analyzing and using data. The explosion of mobile technologies and internet-connected sensors are bringing with them enormous amounts of …
News Release

Bamlanivimab Granted Emergency Use Authorization For Early COVID-19 Treatment

… emergency use authorization (EUA) for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infections. Bamlanivimab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that has shown promise in recent clinical trials in reducing the risk of COVID-19 illness escalation resulting in emergency room visits or hospitalizations. The EUA permits use of bamlanivimab for patients age 12 and older who are at high-risk of disease progression, which …
Podcast

The Hidden Risk in Third Party Claims Isn’t Regulation—It’s Execution

… manage these challenges. In today’s Enlyte Envision podcast, we talk with Dan Zemel, director of product management, and Michele Hibbert, SVP, regulatory compliance management, on how payers … Yeah, absolutely. Thanks, Tom. I had the honor of joining Enlyte recently after spending nearly 20 years in claims leadership across a couple of large carriers. My background is primarily in third-party casualty, including personal lines, …
Article

The More Workers’ Comp Gets High-Tech, the Better for Providers and Patients

… the way we experience the world around us. Our phones can feel like digital extensions of our brains. We converse with smart devices and assent to prompts put up by algorithms about what to watch and what to buy. It’s all powered by an ever-widening river of data. Increasingly, it’s becoming easier to hear the rush of all this data in workers’ … The need to help providers is clear for the simple reason that the success of a workers’ comp case rests in large part on the skills of clinicians. Simply put, helping …
News Release

Mitchell Intelligent Estimating Solution Ready for U.S. Early Adopters

… Mitchell, a leading provider of technology, connectivity and information solutions to the Property & Casualty (P&C) claims and Collision Repair industries , today announced U.S. commercial availability of Mitchell Intelligent Estimating , an advanced, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled claims automation solution, first announced at … which turns photos of damaged vehicles into component-level estimate lines. “As carriers work through technology …
Article

Making the Case for Nurse Case Managers

… Nurse case managers play an influential role in an injured worker’s recovery, but if someone asked you, “What do nurse case managers do?” in more … BSN, and Mitchell Medical Director, Dr. Zenia Cortes who shared their thoughts on the field of workers’ compensation case management. … BSN “I find nurse case managers very valuable. The patients find that they have a direct root of communication with the nurse case manager, they get to know them personally as oppose to …
Article

How (Humane) Claims Automation Leverages Technology for Better Outcomes

… Shortly after World War II, as the Ford Motor Company returned to making cars, one of its more innovative executives, Del Harder , mechanized entire segments of the production line with built-in, electronic controls to ensure that work was meeting the … Department expanded from five to 50 people within a year as the company retrofitted some of its factories to accommodate the technology. “What we need is more automation,” Harder …
Blog

Opioids & Benzodiazepines...a Bad Mix?

… Opioids are used to manage pain and benzodiazepines are prescribed to treat a variety of different conditions including anxiety, muscle spasm, insomnia, and seizures. There are certainly risks associated with combined use of an opioid and a benzodiazepine. Taking an opioid pain medication with other opioid medicines, …
Article

Vehicle Scanning for a Computer Network on Wheels

… controls to operate, communicate and in some cases, record information about the operation of a system or systems that can be used later for diagnosis.” Today’s repairers must be prepared to fix, and heed the advice of, a computer network on wheels. We’ve gone from the days of using scan tools only when a Malfunction Indicator Light came on, to an era in which most collision repairs require the recalibration of electronic systems to assure …
Article

Today's Forecast Calls for Clinical Intervention

… I grew up in an area of the country where it rarely snowed, but when it did, it was difficult to predict. Years of anticipation was followed by disappointment, and occasionally a few unexpected and … and pharmacy data, and integrating that with treatment and return-to-work guidelines builds an accurate picture of the individual as the claim matures and allows us to identify risk …
Podcast

Measles and Its Impact on the U.S. Workforce

… So, to start off, can you give us a quick summary of what measles is and how it impacts an individual's health? … pneumonia, which is common and potentially can become severe. Encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain, can occur in severe cases. In rare cases, measles can lead to seizures or a fatal … two doses. The vaccine remains to be the most effective strategy to preventing the spread of this serious viral infection and its potential health impacts. …
Article

Off Patent Medications & Drug Patent Expiration: Quarterly Drug Update

… and prescribing. Managing pharmaceutical decisions in a claim can greatly impact the outcome of that claim, from recovery time to costs. Therefore, close monitoring of pharmacy changes and compliance updates is vital. In our previous quarterly update , we took a closer look at the utilization of generic drugs and 'me-too' medications. We continue looking at important areas of pharmacy … Treats erectile dysfunction (ED). This medication is required after certain types of injuries. Cost of Sildenafil is approximately $21/tablet, while Viagra brand name is …
Article

Field Inspection vs Virtual Estimating Trends

… Historically, most insurance companies offered three, maybe four standard methods of inspection (MOI’s) to assess damages to a vehicle in the claims process. These standard … inspection at the vehicle’s location if within a staff member’s territory; or inspection by an independent appraiser. Less commonly employed options include, service centers operated by the insurer, and various forms of electronic communication between the insurer and repair facility. In the last decade, …
Article

Remote Telephonic Ergonomics Assessments

… We put years of experience in medical and disability management into action by assisting employers, carriers, … specialists follow the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) definition of fitting the workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working … equipment that may assist if needed. Getting Started Prior to the assessment, Genex will email an ergonomics request form to document the working environment and any discomfort the employee is …
Article

How Medical Inflation is Affecting Workers’ Compensation Claims

… The rate of inflation in United States rose by 7.9% in February 2022 compared to February 2021, the largest spike in the past 40 years. According to McKinsey, it is only a matter of time until medical inflation catches up. To help understand how medical inflation is affecting … per unit in 2021, allowed per unit only increased 2%. Both California and Texas experienced an 8% increase in charge per unit and an 11% increase in allowed per unit. Medical Inflation by …
Article

How Diagnostics Improve the Auto Insurance Claim Process

… that you needed to fix a dented vehicle was a hammer and dolly. Flash-forward to today. With an excess of 75 computers and 100 sensors and cameras in complex vehicles 1 , even the most basic collision … and airbag crash sensors to detect a frontal impact. 2 Long gone is the era when a couple of tools were all that was needed to repair a minor fender bender properly. 60 percent of a … Pre-repair scanning is a step in the damage analysis or blueprinting process used on some of today’s more complex vehicles to identify errors, faults, and damage related, and unrelated, …