Schedule Announced For Continuing Education Confenence

Vermont Department of Labor’s

Adjusters’ Continuing Education

October 24 & 25, 2013 Schedule

Thurs. Oct. 24	ADIRONDACK AB	ADIRONDACK C	ADIRONDACK D
12:30 pm	Update on Issues
12:50	Basics of Workers’ Compensation (Jurisdiction-Compensability)	Permanent Total Claims	Traumatic Brain Injuries
1:50	Basics of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Issues	Ethics in Workers’ Compensation	Causation Issues in Workers’ Compensation Part 1
2:50	Break
3:00	Low Back Pain-What Do We Really Know	Vocational Rehabilitation	Causation Issues in Workers’ Compensation Part 2
3:50	Break
4:00	Observations on Opioids in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain	Calculating Average Weekly Wage and Preparing Forms	Manipulative Therapy in Workers’ Compensation
5pm	Day 1 Ends
Friday Oct. 25
8:15 am	Breakfast
8:30	Legal Update	Meet the DOL - Situations That Cause the Most Confusion in Adjusting a Claim	Pain Disorders in Litigation
9:30	Break
9:45	Mock Mediation	Meet the DOL - Situations That Cause the Most Confusion in Adjusting a Claim	The FCE
10:50	Mock Trial	Meet the DOL - Situations That Cause the Most Confusion in Adjusting a Claim	Medicare Set A Side
12:00	Conference Ends

 

Vermont Workers’ Compensation Adjusters’ Continuing Education Approved for CLE Credits for Vermont Lawyers

The  "Vermont Workers’ Compensation Adjusters’ Continuing Education" to be held on October 24 & 25, 2013 has been approved for 7.5 general credits, including 1.0 ethics credits of continuing legal education. 

DOL Specialist Assignments Effective September 5

The Vermont Department of Labor has reassigned files, effective September 5, 2013, due to the departure of specialist Lisa Brassard.  Questions should be directed to the Department of Labor, (802) 828-2286.   

The Department Memo states in part:

Specialist II Reassignments, effective September 5, 2013:            

This reassignment plan contemplates the abandonment of the number –0.  If you have a claim ending in “-0,” for example EE-56090, go to the number immediately preceding to identify your assigned WC Specialists II and I.  In this example, given that the number previous to the “-0” is “-9,” your assigned Specialists would be WC Specialist II Anne Coutermarsh and WC Specialist I Shirley Houghton.

Assigned Specialist II                    Assigned Specialist I                                

-1        Anne Coutermarsh                   Shirley Houghton

-2        Anne Coutermarsh                   Shirley Houghton

-9        Anne Coutermarsh                   Shirley Houghton

-3        Mary Sarazin                            Muriel Landis

-4        Mary Sarazin                            Muriel Landis
-5*      Mary Sarazin                            Muriel Landis
 

-6        Julie Charonko                          Wendell Sargent

-7        Julie Charonko                          Wendell Sargent
-8        Julie Charonko                          Wendell Sargent

* In the short-term, some Form 27s and other matters in “-5” claims may be temporarily assigned to other staff to handle.  Nevertheless, all correspondence related to contested “-5” matters should be directed to Mary Sarazin until further notice.

Department Revises Vocational Rehabilitation Referral Form

The Vermont Department of Labor has revised the form used to refer injured workers for vocational rehabilitation services.

The new Vocational Rehabilitation Referral Form (VR-1) requires the following new information:
(1)  electronic mail addresses for the claimant, claimant's attorney, the vocational provider and the adjuster/defense attorney; and 
(2)  the name of a contact person at the employer. 

The revisions move the lines to identify the name of the treating physician and the type of injury sustained to the section entitled, "Employee Information."

The Department has noted, that as of now, companies should discontinue use of the prior version of the VR-1.

 

The new form is located at the following link:

http://labor.vermont.gov/LinkClick.aspx?link=VR%2fVRreferral82013fillin.pdf&tabid=170&mid=583

Hilton Hotel Room Block Filling Quickly For Vermont Workers' Compensation Conference

The Vermont Department of Labor’s Workers’ Compensation Adjusters’ Continuing Education is scheduled for October 24 and 25^th at the Hilton Hotel, Burlington, Vermont.   Ryan Smith & Carbine, Ltd. has been informed that the original room block has filled.  Arrangements have been made to add a number of additional rooms to the block.  Due to increased interest in this final seminar of the two year cycle, it is suggested that participants register and reserve their rooms early.

The link below takes you to the registration for the October 24 & 25 conference.

http://www.cvent.com/d/z4qnkd/4W

The Hilton Hotel, Burlington, Vermont has a block of rooms has been secured for the conference. The link below will provide access to easy online reservations. Guests can also contact 1-800-Hiltons using the code: VTD for the discounted rate.

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/B/BTTVTHF-VTD-20131023/index.jhtml