IAIABC 112th Convention

The Board of Directors meet to discuss IAIABC strategy and governance.

Lunch Menu:
Soup: Tomato Bisque
Salads: Caprese, Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Basil, Balsamic (GF) and Spring Greens, Romaine, Chickpeas, Shaved Peppers, Lemon, Grated Parmesan
Dressings: Buttermilk Ranch, Apple Cider Vinaigrette (GF, V), Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF)
Sandwiches:
Assorted Turkey, Roast Beef, Ham, Vegetarian Mini Sandwiches, & Wraps
Herbed Mayonnaise, Dijon Mustard, Dill Pickles
Bags of Local Chips
Desserts: Berry Cheesecake Tarts and Chocolate Panna Cotta Verrine (GF)

Members of the Board of Directors meet with Committee leaders to discuss IAIABC strategic direction and Committee projects and needs.

The sponsor marketplace showcases industry leaders in service and technology. Stop by to learn about products and services to help meet your workers' compensation needs.

Thank you to SFM for sponsoring this morning's breakfast.

Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins, Danishes
Huckleberry Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Cheese (GF)
Smoked Bacon
Pork Sausage Links
Seasoned Hashbrowns

Explore how jurisdictions are navigating the ongoing challenges of wrap-up projects, double coverage, and other complex coverage issues. Representatives from Oregon, Rhode Island, and Kentucky will provide a practical, real-world perspective on current trends, challenges, and solutions. The session will also include updates on the new Proof of Coverage module and national developments from the WCIO. 

Many jurisdictions are seeing the continued expansion of workers' compensation presumptions, particularly for occupational cancers, PTSD, and other conditions affecting first responders and public employees. While these presumptions are intended to improve access to benefits and address unique occupational risks, they are also raising questions regarding system costs, administrative impacts, actual outcomes, and the very purpose of workers’ compensation. This panel will examine recent developments and research from Washington, Virginia, and Minnesota, alongside national observations regarding PTSD claims and treatment. Expect practical, experience based, insights into how expanding presumptions are reshaping workers' compensation systems and what policymakers, regulators, insurers, and employers should consider as these trends continue. 

Lunch on your own

Attendees of the Dispute Resolution Committee meeting will hear a jurisdictional spotlight from Washington followed by a panel on extraterritorial coverage. Representatives from Washington, Oregon, and Montana will explore the challenges and case-law involved in cross-border coverage, including identifying existing extraterritorial agreements, defining the scope of those agreements, assessing the factors that guide jurisdictional determinations, distinguishing temporary and permanent benefit provisions, and reviewing medical provider limitations. The session offers a comprehensive look at the complexities involved in administering coverage across state lines. 

Speakers: Dr. Hector Upegui, Chief Health Officer, Curam by Merative

Attendees will hear a presentation on Triggers and the Assessment of Disability: An International Comparative Analysis of Workers’ Compensation Policies. Within workers’ compensation, the policy trigger serves as the foundation for coverage, benefit entitlement, financial reserving, and long-term cost forecasting. Crucially, the choice of trigger dictates the governing statutes and guidelines for the assessment of disability, directly impacting how impairment is rated and how indemnity payouts are calculated. This presentation delivers a cross-border examination of coverage triggers internationally, highlighting their diversity and uncovering how disparate trigger models impact claims management, legal outcomes, and financial exposure."

Join an exhilarating speed networking session where professionals meet, exchange ideas, and expand their business contacts in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Come prepared to meet new attendees and broaden your network.

Unwind after a day of sessions at the Attendee Happy Hour. Engage in lively discussions, make new connections, and indulge in a variety of appetizers and drinks. Name badges are required for this event. Guests of registered attendees planning to attend will need to purchase a guest pass ahead of time.

Menu:
Cougar Gold Cheese Tart
Tuna Crisp, Mango Salsa
Chimichurri Chicken Skewer
Charcuterie and Artisinal Cheese Display
Chef’s Selection of cured and dried meats and Artisanal American-Made Cheeses
Served with Assorted Crackers, Crispy Lavash Flat Bread, baguette, mustards, Assorted Fruit Chutneys, Assorted Nuts, Dried Fruit and Whole Grape

The sponsor marketplace showcases industry leaders in service and technology. Stop by to learn about products and services to help meet your workers' compensation needs.

Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins**, Danishes
Sliced Breakfast Breads**
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Huckleberry Coffee Cake**
Hard Boiled Eggs (GF)
Overnight Oats, Almond Butter**, Strawberry, Banana

Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins, Danishes
Huckleberry Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Scrambled with Organic Spinach, Boursin Cheese (GF)
Smoked Bacon
Honey Cured Ham
Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes, Herbs, Red Onions

Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins, Danishes
Huckleberry Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Scrambled with Organic Spinach, Boursin Cheese (GF)
Smoked Bacon
Honey Cured Ham
Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes, Herbs, Red Onions

Join IAIABC President Phillip Germain, CEO of the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board, as he reflects on 2026 and looks toward the future.

Speaker: Heather Abbott, Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor & Amputee

Join us for an unforgettable keynote with Heather Abbott, Boston Marathon bombing survivor, amputee advocate, and founder of the Heather Abbott Foundation. Heather will share her remarkable journey of trauma, resilience, and reinvention. Heather's story offers a powerful look at the profound, often unseen ways health care professionals shape the lives of trauma patients, as well as how her experience transformed her own leadership and approach to supporting employees with disabilities.

Thank you to MyMatrixx for sponsoring today's coffee break.

IAIABC NextGen Award recipients from 2026 will share "Ignite" presentations: short insights on a topic of their choosing. Always a fun and informative session; come to celebrate these innovative and inspirational leaders in workers' compensation. 

Celebrate the 2026 IAIABC President's Awards and IAIABC NextGen Award recipients during this luncheon sponsored by NCCI.

Menu:
Salad: Farm Green Salad Spinach, Arugula, Kale (GF, V) with Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF, V)
Entree: Pacific Chinook King Salmon, Couscous, Lemon Beurre Blanc
Dietary Restriction Meal: Quinoa, Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Tomatoes, Red Pepper Purée (GF, V)
Desserts: Lemon Meringue Tart, Chocolate Salted Caramel Cup (GF)

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the cybersecurity landscape, and workers’ compensation is no longer insulated from these threats. After recent cyber‑attacks targeting claimant data, it’s clear the workers' compensation industry must rethink its assumptions. Threat actors are already using AI to mine public information, craft highly targeted phishing, and probe networks at a scale that overwhelms traditional defenses. This session cuts through speculation by separating genuinely new AI-driven risks from more sophisticated versions of long-standing threat techniques. Through real examples from WC‑sector assessments, attendees will learn how AI‑assisted attacks actually operate, how defenses can realistically counter them, and where common misconceptions distract from real vulnerabilities. Walk away with an actionable understanding of how AI is reshaping both offense and defense—and what WC leaders should prioritize now to stay ahead. 

Many jurisdictions are grappling with growing shortages of both medical and mental health providers — a challenge that directly affects access to care, claim timelines, and injured worker outcomes. Through real‑world examples and forward‑looking ideas, panelists will offer actionable tips and creative approaches to expand provider access, improve care coordination, and strengthen the workers’ compensation system amid ongoing workforce constraints.

Thank you to Healthesystems for sponsoring this afternoon's break.

Menu: Tim Cascade's Potato Chips
Huckleberry Lemonade
Pepsi Product Sodas

Speaker: Raji Chadarevian, Executive Director-Actuarial Research, NCCI 

This session explores how the demographic characteristics of injured workers, the medical conditions that develop after an injury, and the treatments they receive all shape the duration of temporary disability and the time it takes to reach medical stability. These factors. and the resulting claim timelines. vary widely across jurisdictions. The session will evaluate the key relationships and time frames that drive claim resolution, highlighting how differences in medical utilization, co-morbidities, and aging‑related conditions influence outcomes. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of why some claims move quickly while others stall, and how emerging medical trends are reshaping recovery patterns.

Speaker: Jaymie Mai, Pharmacy Director, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries 

The Ozempic Effect - How GLPs Are Impacting Injured Worker Recovery and Return to Work 

A newer class of drugs is reshaping diabetes and obesity treatment, while raising new workers’ compensation considerations. This session will cover the rapidly evolving class of drug therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, and emerging triple-hormone agonists. Participants will gain an understanding of the clinical applications, utilization trends, cost considerations, and potential implications for workers' compensation and disability management. Ebix Giveaway during this session

Menu:
Salmon Cake
Tomato Basil Mozzarella Skewer
Risotto Fritter

Come ready with your favorite songs for dueling pianos from The Ridler Piano Bar, a Spokane institution! 

Menu: Brownies and Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispy Treats
First two drinks on the IAIABC, followed by a cash bar. Guests of registered attendees planning to attend will need to purchase a guest pass ahead of time. 

The sponsor marketplace showcases industry leaders in service and technology. Stop by to learn about products and services to help meet your workers' compensation needs.

Thank you to Optum for sponsoring this morning's breakfast.

Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins, Danishes
Huckleberry Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Cheese (GF)
Smoked Bacon
Pork Sausage Links
Seasoned Hashbrowns

Members are invited to hear updates on the finances, membership, projects, and programs of the IAIABC. The 2026-2027 Board of Directors election will take place, and new leadership will be sworn in.

Speaker: Alex Reynolds, Team Lead, Education and Outreach, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation

Workers’ compensation sits at the intersection of law, healthcare, insurance, and regulation, making it a difficult system to navigate, especially for injured workers. Regulators often serve as the bridge between parties, and clear, accessible communication is essential to ensuring workers understand the laws, processes, and resources intended to support them. This session will offer practical strategies for helping regulators communicate more effectively with injured workers, including making technical information understandable, creating content that serves diverse audiences, and improving the usability of agency websites. Drawing on the Colorado Education & Outreach team’s real‑world experience, the session highlights communication as a regulatory tool that can strengthen trust and build bridges across the system.

Undocumented workers sit at a complicated crossroads in workers’ compensation, shaped by the tension between state benefit structures and federal immigration law. This session explores the complexity of delivering benefits and how enforcement pressures shape medical access, dispute patterns, and overall system integrity. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how these dynamics affect not only individual claims but the stability and fairness of workers’ compensation systems as a whole.

Speakers: Nhut Nguyen, Data Visualization Analyst, NIOSH
Solaiman Doza, Health Scientist, NIOSH
Steve Wurzelbacher,  Manager for the Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies, NIOSH

Datasets do not exist in a vacuum, but rather always in context to other data sources. The session aims to inspire discussion on the role of data visualization in workers’ compensation, and how it can transform understanding and decision-making. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) focuses on expanding the use of state-level workers' compensation claims data for research and prevention and encouraging collaborations between the public health and WC communities. Attendees will see examples of CWCS’s interactive visualization projects, learn how partnerships enhance the context and value of workers' compensation data, and discover resources to support their own visualization needs.

Speakers: Adam Fowler, Director of Regulatory Affairs, MyMatrixx by Evernorth
Alan Rook, Senior Clinical Account Executive, MyMatrixx by Evernorth
Lisa Anne Hurt-Forsythe, Vice President of Government Affairs, AAPAN

Topical medications are often perceived as low risk, routine therapies, but in workers’ compensation, they’ve become a growing source of cost volatility and regulatory scrutiny.  This panel will highlight where topical spending is most volatile, review recent legislative and regulatory actions, and outline practical strategies for managing utilization without compromising care. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of why topical costs spike and what best practices can help keep programs sustainable.

Thank you to Concentra for sponsoring this luncheon. 

Menu:
Soup: Clam Chowder
Salads: Caesar Salad, Romaine, Olive Oil Croutons, Shredded Parmesan, Caesar Dressing or Caprese Salad, Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Basil, Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF)
Entrées: Flat Iron steak, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Port Wine Demi (GF) or Pacific King Salmon, Sunrise Potato Medley, Garlic Cream Sauce (GF)
Side: Seasonal Vegetables (GF, V)
Desserts: Chocolate Salted Caramel Cup (GF) or Berry Cheesecake Tarts

Hear about major regulatory and legislative issues impacting jurisdictional leaders during this dynamic session led by the IAIABC Associate Member Council.

Speaker: Morgan Wear, COHE Director, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
Athena Hightower, Surgical Quality Care Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
Amy Anderson, Manager of Center of Occupational Health and Education, Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center
Laura Rachel Kaufman, MD, PhD, FACOEM, COHE Medical Director KPWA, Kaiser Permanente On-the-Job
Peter Phillips 

For more than 20 years, the Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries has partnered with healthcare organizations to improve outcomes for injured workers through practical, evidence‑informed best‑practice programs. In this session, you’ll hear directly from a panel of participating healthcare partners about how these programs have evolved since the early 2000s and how they continue to build bridges between providers, employers, and the workers’ compensation system. Panelists will share lessons learned and explore what sustained partnership looks like in practice.

Hear directly from jurisdictional EDI leaders as they share updates on emerging reporting requirements, implementation challenges, and regulatory priorities. The session will provide valuable insights to help reporters prepare for upcoming changes and better understand evolving jurisdictional expectations. Notebooks courtesy of Aerie EDI Group will be available during the session, and a prize giveaway sponsored by Verisk will take place during the meeting.

Regulatory and legislative decisions increasingly demand more than anecdotal evidence or historical precedent; they require empirical data that demonstrates real world impact. In workers’ compensation and auto insurance systems alike, policymakers face growing pressure to balance cost containment, access to care, fairness, and administrative efficiency. This session will explore how empirical data can be effectively leveraged to inform, shape, and support regulatory and legislative change. Drawing from practical experience, the presenters will discuss how claims, medical, and outcomes data can be translated into meaningful insights that resonate with regulators, legislators, and other stakeholders, while avoiding common pitfalls.

Join the EDI Council for updates from EDI Committees and the EDI Claims Modernization group, including review of the proposed Release 4.0 project timeline. The Council will also receive an update on PTSD/I-related efforts to improve claim identification and reporting. The session will conclude with discussion and voting on proposed changes to leadership term timing and duration.