March 24, 2008

Sviggum appoints 12 to workers' compensation advisory work group about billing, auditing processes

Commissioner Steve Sviggum has appointed 12 members to the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) Work Group on Billing and Auditing Processes.

The work group, created by Sviggum, will make policy and operations recommendations about the billing process, automation of billing, compensability, pay-for-performance, post-audit process, repricing professional code of conduct, and general efficiency and effectiveness of the system's billing and auditing processes.

"I am encouraged by the commitment and leadership of our workers' compensation employees, employers, medical providers and other stakeholders to this new work group," Sviggum said. "Together, they will help reform our workers' compensation system by making recommendations that will achieve cost savings, improve effectiveness and efficiency, and respond to the needs of injured workers. One that helps injured workers, but also gets them back working as soon as possible, through innovative care and policies. This work group will help ensure Minnesota continues to have one of the best workers' compensation systems in the nation."

The 12 members are:

• Dennis Ballinger, Edina, vice president of workers' compensation claims, Western National Mutual Insurance;
• Michael Delfs, Aitkin, chief operating officer, Riverwood Healthcare Center;
• Robert Johnson, St. Paul, president and chief executive officer, Insurance Federation of Minnesota;
• Andrew McCoy, Minneapolis, vice president of revenue management, Fairview Health Services;
• Kathy Parsons, St. Cloud, director of managed care, CentraCare Health Services;
• Meredith Redmond, Bloomington, claims supervisor, Meadowbrook Insurance Group;
• Brian Rotty, Rochester, Mayo Clinic, representing self-insured employers;
• Charlotte Scheriner, St. Paul, director of patient financial services, Regions Hospital;
• Troy Simonson, Minneapolis, administrator, Twin Cities Orthopedic;
• Wendy Stiegel, Moorhead, nurse supervisor, Innovis Health;
• Peter Thrane, Minneapolis, attorney who represents the Minnesota Self-Insurers Association; and
• Bill Weisman, Edina, claims team supervisor, Federated Insurance Company.

The work group will be led by WCAC members David Olson, president, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce; and Elizabeth Shogren, Labor Education, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Minnesota Nurses Association. Its legislative liaisons will be Sen. Tom Bakk, D-Cook, and Rep. Mike Nelson, D-Brooklyn Park.

The work group's first meeting will be Tues., April 8, at 8 a.m., at the Department of Labor and Industry, 443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul. Subsequent meetings will be on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. The work group will make its recommendations to the WCAC by Sept. 1, 2008.

-###-

News media contact:
James Honerman
(651) 284-5313