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. And when it comes to data, WCRI always packs a punch. And I would be remiss if I did not note that you have just two more days, until February 6th, to take advantage of early bird registration savings.
Dr. Lanhee J. Chen, a distinguished public policy expert and David and Diane Steffy Fellow at the Hoover Institution, will deliver the conference’s opening keynote. Dr. Chen’s address will examine how the incoming Trump administration and new Congress might reshape healthcare policy—a crucial consideration for workers’ compensation stakeholders navigating an evolving political landscape. His expertise stems from extensive experience advising government leaders, including service on the Social Security Advisory Board under President Obama and a senior role in the Department of Health and Human Services during the George W. Bush administration.
Another session will feature University of North Carolina Professor Mark Holmes, PhD, addressing the pressing issue of rural healthcare access. As director of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and leader of the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dr. Holmes will explore how provider shortages, hospital closures, and market forces affect injured workers in rural areas. His presentation will highlight disparities in healthcare access and examine potential solutions, including the role of telehealth in addressing these challenges.
Two notable panel discussions will complement the keynote presentation. The “Regulatory Panel: Responding to Today’s Challenges” will bring together state regulators to discuss the dynamics of workers’ compensation systems. Panelists include Clarissa Rodriguez, Chair & Commissioner of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board; Marianne Saylor, Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation; and Gaetano Testini, Director of the Industrial Commission of Arizona.
A second panel, “Perspectives on COMPlex Topics,” will tackle emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, labor shortages, long COVID, marijuana policy, medical inflation, and mental health. This discussion will feature diverse viewpoints from industry leaders including Melissa Zaparanick, Head of Workers Compensation at The Hartford Insurance Group; Billy Dycus, President of the Tennessee AFL-CIO; Dr. Randall Lea, a retired orthopedic surgeon and WCRI Fellow; and Nancy Kelly, Risk and Nurse Case Manager at Averitt Express.
As indicated earlier, the conference represents a significant gathering for workers’ compensation professionals, offering opportunities to explore original research findings and network with senior decision-makers from across the industry. For many people, WCRI is a must-attend event.
Early registration discounts of $100 are available through February 6.
I’ll be there. I hope you are, too. We will learn a thing or two, and I’ll even let you buy me drinks. How can you pass up a deal like that?
Originally published on bobscluttereddesk.com
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