The Pennsylvania Bar Institute is pleased to partner with the PA Department of Labor & Industry Bureau of Workers' Compensation in providing continuing legal education credits for the 22nd Annual Workers’ Compensation Conference. Please note that your conference registration does not include the costs for CLE credit; you must register with PBI for CLE credits.
For complete information on the conference, please visit 22nd Annual Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Conference.
Join the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry for this year’s conference.
Thursday, June 1, 2023
7:00 AM
Registration (Chocolate Lobby) & Continental Breakfast (Exhibit Hall)
8:30 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks: Jennifer Berrier, Secretary, PA Department of Labor & Industry (Chocolate Ballroom)
9:15 AM to 10:30 AM
Breakout Sessions (Confection Hall Level)
Legal Updates (Empire Room)
An annual favorite join in this discussion of the leading cases and current, potentially problematic issues facing workers’ compensation practitioners.
WCAIS – Reinventing Itself in our Digital Environment (Crystal A Room)
Join this interactive session with WCAIS experts to learn about enhancements: the WCAIS Dashboard, tips and tricks for navigating the digitally transformed WCAIS screens, and Trading Partner agreements.
Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (Wild Rose Room)
This session provides an overview of the PCRB and the State of the Workers Compensation Insurance Line, a comprehensive view of the PA workers' compensation system, highlighting key metrics, including medical and indemnity loss trends and market characteristics. This overview will also touch on the classification system and any recent changes. Lastly, the new Workers Compensation Insurance Experience Rating Plan will be introduced, including how it affects workers' compensation costs for employers or business owners.
Basic Law – Part 1 (Magnolia Room)
Workers’ Compensation Judge Seelig provides a basic overview of workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania, including a discussion on its history, basic entitlements, wage loss, course of employment and disability/partial disability.
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Break & Exhibits (Exhibit Hall)
11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Breakout Sessions (Confection Hall Level)
Interactive State of the Union (Empire Room)
Workers’ Compensation is administered by the Department of Labor and Industry through three (3) distinct program areas working in conjunction: the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), the Office of Adjudication (WCOA) and the Appeal Board (WCAB). In this interactive session, hear from the BWC Director, the WCOA Director and the WCAB Chairman as they describe what they do, how their practices and procedures have evolved post-pandemic, and common misconceptions about how workers’ compensation matters move through the system.
Getting to YES – Mediation & Settlement in Workers’ Compensation (Crystal A Room)
Learn from very experienced practitioners and a judge how cases are mediated and resolved under the PA WC Act. Understand the risks, benefits, and pitfalls of the compromise and release process.
Joint Replacement Surgery: Out with the Old, In with the New (Wild Rose Room)
Discuss the benefits and outcome spectrum of some of the most common joint replacements, including the overall patient function and satisfaction.
Basic Law – Part 2 (Magnolia Room)
This detailed discussion will follow the flow of the claim process from the moment of injury until the final adjudication. Speakers will address frequently asked questions about the workers’ compensation law and will give basic information about what the law is and what it does.
12:15 PM to 1:45 PM
Lunch (Chocolate Ballroom)
1:45 PM to 3:00 PM
Breakout Sessions (Confection Hall Level)
WCAB Hearing (Empire Room)
Come and watch actual arguments before the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB). Have the opportunity to question commissioners after observing several arguments.
Return to Work – Functional Recovery (Crystal A Room)
Learn about the Risk Capacity and Tolerance framework and how it supports making more accurate and consistent work ability and return to work decisions.
Payment of Medical Bills – The Fee Review Process, Challenges, and Litigation (Wild Rose Room)
This session acquaints attendees with the basics of the Pennsylvania system of medical cost containment. It will challenge the more seasoned veteran with the discussion of the interplay between utilization review and fee review. The presenters will also provide an update on the most recent developments in this area of the system, particularly those affecting dispute resolution.
As the Claim Turns – Part 1 (Magnolia Room)
This year’s session will focus on a WC claim involving EDI transaction implications.
3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Break & Exhibits (Exhibit Hall)
3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
Breakout Sessions (Confection Hall Level)
Commonwealth Court (Empire Room)
Come and watch an actual recorded argument held at the Commonwealth Court on an important workers’ compensation issue. Afterward, three Commonwealth Court Judges will answer your questions about the process the court goes through in hearing and deciding cases.
Return to Work - Vocational Recovery (Crystal A Room)
Learn strategies for effectively working together to match physical capabilities, skills and aptitudes to achieve a successful return to work.
Employment Law Interaction with Workers’ Comp: A Case Study (Wild Rose Room)
This session will address proper and effective administration of a workers’ compensation claim in the context of issues raised by the ADA, FMLA, COBRA, the Unemployment Compensation Law and privacy issues.
As the Claim Turns – Part 2 (Magnolia Room)
This year’s session will focus on a WC claim involving EDI transaction implications.
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Dinner (Chocolate Ballroom)
Friday, June 2, 2023
7:30 AM
Continental Breakfast (Exhibit Hall)
8:00 AM to 8:30 AM
Kids’ Chance Presentation (Wild Rose Room)
8:30 AM to 9:45 AM
Breakout Sessions (Confection Hall Level)
Employee Mental Health & Wellbeing Post-Injury (Empire Room)
Recognize signs and symptoms of mental health needs. Discuss the importance of a focus on person-centered care and improving accessibility to mental health resources following an injury.
Legislative Process (Crystal A Room)
Experienced and respected “Hands on the Hill” will provide a brief overview of the legislative process and discuss pending or recently enacted workers’ compensation legislation.
Employers Unplugged (Wild Rose Room)
These experienced large, medium, and small employers will address evolving challenges and topics such as workforce education, pre-injury training, post-injury medical care and the claims management process. The panel will discuss coordination between the adjuster, employer, medical providers and counsel to support a successful modified duty and return to work program.
Judges Unplugged (Magnolia Room)
Listen and learn as the four (4) Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication Judges instruct attendees about best practices, WCJ procedures, and pitfalls.
9:45 AM to 10:15 AM
Break & Exhibits (Exhibit Hall)
10:15 to 11:30 AM
Breakout Sessions (Confection Hall Level)
Avoiding Litigation (Empire Room)
In this session, the panel will present collaborative strategies and insights to facilitate the WC claim process and avoid adversarial outcomes.
Self-Insurance: The Hows & Whys (Crystal A Room)
Educating self-insured employers on how to effectively collaborate with the Self-Insurance Division and providing information on the activities of the PSIA.
Genetic Testing for Pharmaceutical Effectiveness (Wild Rose Room)
We will discuss how genetic testing can improve clinical management and impact health outcomes while also highlighting the legal implications of submitting to this testing, including the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
WC Game Show (Magnolia Room)
Test your workers’ compensation knowledge. This fun & informative session takes the attendees through the nuances of Workers’ Comp in PA.
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Lunch (Chocolate Ballroom)
1:00 PM to 2:15 PM
Breakout Sessions (Confection Hall Level)
Legal Updates [Repeated](Empire Room)
An annual favorite join in this discussion of the leading cases and current, potentially problematic issues facing workers’ compensation practitioners.
Developing a Safety Culture in the Workplace (Crystal A Room)
A positive safety culture is directly related to significantly reduced workplace accidents, efficient safety communications and employee morale. Attendees will hear from an employer who has successfully developed a safety culture on how it has benefited their business and employees alike. The panel members will share their perspective on safety committees and how a strong safety culture is a win-win situation for everyone. Attendees will hear about the impact a safety culture can have on their employees and business as well as learn the methods for establishing a sustainable safety culture and the elements that have been successful for panel members.
Subrogation: Whose Money is it, Anyway? (Wild Rose Room)
The how, when, and why of Section 319 of the WC Act. Subrogation of third-party claims, employer-provided disability plans, and medical benefits.
Statutory Employers: Master Not in your Own House (Magnolia Room)
The ins and outs of Sec. 302 of the WC Act. Responsibilities of a statutory employer, who is a statutory employer, and how to prove or disprove statutory employer.
2:15 PM
Conference Adjourns
Overnight Accommodations
Reservations for overnight accommodations at the Hershey Lodge must be made by contacting the lodge on or before May 1, 2023, at 855-729-3108 or Click here.