Category: From Bob’s Cluttered Desk

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has announced a compelling lineup of speakers and panels for its 2025 Issues & Research Conference, scheduled for March 6-7 in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference will feature prominent healthcare policy experts addressing critical challenges facing the workers’ compensation industry. Many of us look forward to this annual event, as it is generally considered the launch of the conference season for the workers’ compensation industry.…

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Most people at this point are familiar with the phrase “jumping the shark.” Those of us old enough to remember its origins know that it developed from an episode of the 1970’s show “Happy Days,” that consisted of the persistently cool Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli jumping a shark on water skis. The stunt came late in the show’s life and became emblematic of a program that had gone too far, from…

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All of the fervor around artificial intelligence of late has been largely focused on how fast the technology is advancing. Indeed, as a personal consumer of significant AI services today, I can tell you that even in the last 12 months the advances have been incredible. However, an article came across my Cluttered Desk earlier this week that might represent the first significant setback to the abilities of AI. In fact, if…

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Well, the year 2025 has dawned upon us. I actually wanted a fancier way to say that, something more formal to ring in the new year. However, my feeble mind struggled with the task, so I asked one of my AI assistants to provide me with a cleverer way to phrase that opening line. It came up with: “Verily, the celestial chronometer has unfurled its majestic scroll to reveal that…

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In a tragic incident this week, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down while entering a hotel for an investor’s conference in New York City. While (as of this writing) the suspect has not yet been apprehended and the motive remains unknown, undoubtedly, many in this country, myself included, reached an immediate conclusion. Disgruntled policyholder.  Or someone otherwise who felt severely affected by a denied or delayed health care claim. Some…

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In the bustling world of workers’ compensation, where policies and procedures often overshadow the human element, it’s easy to forget the real lives impacted by workplace injuries. Enter Kids’ Chance Awareness Week, a beacon of hope and a reminder that behind every claim number lies a family, and often, children whose futures hang in the balance. Scheduled for November 18-22, 2024, Kids’ Chance Awareness Week is more than just a…

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The story you are about to read is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.  And in some cases, the stupid. Really stupid. It’s a shame I can’t change my own name, as it would have protected me on numerous occasions of idiocy. But that is a different story, I suppose. I received a call recently from a friend who is a high-level executive of a fairly…

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There are only a limited number of ways that a company can show its support for the workers’ compensation industry at a national level. Supporting Kids’ Chance is certainly one of them. Kids’ Chance, as almost everyone in the industry is aware, is an organization that provides scholarships and educational opportunities for children of workers killed or seriously injured on the job.  Kids’ Chance consists of 50 state organizations, as…

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The healthcare landscape is undergoing significant changes, with a notable trend being the vertical integration of medical providers. This phenomenon, where hospitals or health systems acquire physician practices, has led to a shift in how medical care is delivered and billed. The presentation at the WCRI Conference in Boston, MA, by Bogdan Savych and Eric Harrison, delved into the effects of this integration on the utilization of care and patient…

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In the “Day Two Keynote” presentation at the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Annual Issues and Research Conference, Dr. Constance (Connie) Noonan Hadley, a professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, addressed the critical issue of loneliness in the workplace. Her talk highlighted the significant impact of loneliness on both workplace health and productivity, and she offered a series of recommendations to mitigate this growing concern. Dr. Hadley underscored…

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