It was a single sour note in an otherwise well produced musical. The final day of the AASCIF conference, during the opening notes, they announced that a number of people had been selected in a drawing to receive backstage passes to that evenings closing gala. The lucky winners would get a “meet and greet” with…
Shooting the Intern for the Sins of the Media
It is quite possible that Ron Burgundy is the smartest guy in the news reporting business. Burgundy, the trendy yet intellectually bereft 1970’s anchorman played by Will Ferrell in the movie “Anchorman”, has nothing on the cast of characters that generated the most ridiculous story of the year last week. First, we have the reporter,…
Hiding Your Stuff Amidst Verbal Vomit
I’ve had a bit more time to cogitate over the presentation given by author Thom Singer last Monday at the AASCIF 2013 annual conference in Austin, TX. In that presentation Singer spoke of ways to improve our networking abilities and personal relationships with others. Two of the specific things he mentioned were “verbal vomit” and…
An Engaged Carrier Can Improve Care While Lowering Pharmacy Costs
There was a truly enlightening session today at the AASCIF 2013 conference in Austin, TX. Dr. Nicholas Tsourmas, Medical Director for Texas Mutual, gave an in depth look at the program his company used to reduce pharmaceutical abuses that were both costing them money and hurting injured workers care. Bottom line? An engaged company can…
AASCIF 2013 Is About Communication, Branding and Building a Better You
The first morning session of AASCIF 2013 here in Austin, TX is now behind us, and it is clear that improving communication at an individual and industry level is a big part of this years agenda. AASCIF is the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds, and every year one state fund hosts the group’s…
Finally on Facebook – A Page for WorkersCompensation.com Just Waiting to be Liked
It has finally happened. We have launched the long awaited page on Facebook for WorkersCompensation.com. It was inevitable, although I traveled a long road mentally to get here. In the very early days of Social Media, as an executive running an online information service, I struggled internally with the concept that we needed to somehow…
Insurance Fraudster Proves Twitter Not Just For Smart People Anymore
60 year old Wanda Podgurski apparently thought she had it made. After claiming a fake injury in her home and collecting money from no less than seven insurance companies, she skipped town in the middle of her insurance fraud trial and headed for the hills. She vanished into that dark night, forfeiting $500,000 bail in…
Texas Jury Acquits in Murder of Prostitute Who Failed To Perform On the Job Duties
On the surface it seems like any other normal holiday business transaction. A Texas man finds an escort on Craigslist, and arranges to procure her services on Christmas Eve. She comes to his home, they reach a contractual agreement, and she accepts a $150 payment prior to services being rendered. Now despite the Norman Rockwellish…
Preparing for Some Major AASCIFFING in Texas
I received an email yesterday telling me that registration for the upcoming AASCIF 2013 conference closes this Friday. The conference is being held this year July 14 – 17, in Austin TX. I am not too worried about the closing registration. I am already signed up, as is my wife. I've been quietly practicing my…
Moldy Lottery Tickets Cause More Than Metaphorical Stink
How many New Jersey Lottery Managers does it take to promptly remove a million dollars worth of moldy, smelly lottery tickets? Apparently more than they currently have, as it took more than 6 months to remove storm damaged lottery tickets that appear to have made some employees sick. The employees filed worker's compensation claims after…