Author Archives
For more than a decade, Carlos Luna has been a trusted adviser to shareholders and stakeholders in claims, utilization review, managed care, insurance, and government agencies. His consultation focuses on effectively incorporating Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) content and tools into the Workers’ Compensation clinical and claims workflows to achieve improved healthcare, return-to-work, and financial outcomes.
A recognized thought-leader on national workers’ compensation issues, Carlos’ blogs have been published by industry-leading publications such as WorkCompCentral, WorkCompWire, Insurance Business Magazine, Louisiana Comp Blog, and more. He was named a “New Leader in Workers’ Compensation” by WorkCompWire in 2017 and was featured as LegalNetInc.com’s “Thursday Thought Leader” in 2018.
A regular speaker on regional and national workers’ compensation conference circuits, he has become a guiding voice within key regulatory focused associations such as the International Association for Industrial Accident Boards (IAIABC) and the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA).
Engaging Regulatory and State Workers’ Compensation representatives has been commonplace throughout Carlos’ career. He has played an integral role in assisting regulatory agencies throughout the country to disseminate training and compliance programs to maximize user adoption of EBM content and tools and reduce overall friction on the system in each jurisdiction.
Carlos is passionate about establishing a balanced workers’ compensation system that benefits all of its stakeholders.
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Government Dignitaries Give Praise to Ag Community Amid Height of the Pandemic
The agriculture industry recently came together for AgSafe’s Innovation Virtual Conference. During the conference’s two-day track on state and federal regulatory compliance, dignitaries from various government agencies echoed one another in vocalizing high praise for America’s agriculture community amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a recap of the event’s highlights.
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The Freedom Nurse
The workers’ compensation industry is filled with extraordinary individuals whose journeys are as fantastic as they are. This blog entry introduces Captain Cynthia Ortiz, U.S. Army Reserves & Workers’ Compensation Utilization Review Nurse. Captain Ortiz has dedicated a large portion of her life to serving the country that she passionately loves while advocating for injured workers on their way to recovery. This Fourth of July, let’s celebrate Captain Cynthia Ortiz and the countless other workers’ compensation professionals who serve, or have served, in the U.S. Armed Forces. Let’s remember to say thank you for their service, sacrifice, and for inspiring us all.
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ACOEM Publishes COVID-19 EBM Practice Guideline
A leading evidence-based medicine (EBM) guidelines publisher announces the publication of the very first EBM Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guideline for occupational health. The announcement comes at a critical time as state jurisdictions fight to mitigate the pandemic’s effects on their respective economies and workforces. This is an important publication as it establishes an objective starting point for occupational health providers to consider.
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Coping with COVID-19
Throughout my career, I’ve learned to lean on a couple of very rudimentary, yet highly effective, elements to help keep me focused and composed in times of high anxiety and uncertainty. I hope this column will edify you and help you cope with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
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The Modernization of Agriculture’s Guest Worker Program
During their 40th Annual Forum in Monterey, California, the Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA) took a deep dive into the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 (H.R. 5038). The bill is aimed at modernizing the H-2A temporary agricultural employment of… Read More ›
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Let the People Choose
On September 24, the Comp Laude® Awards and Gala featured eight industry leaders as part of the People’s Choice Awards, which is quickly becoming the signature event of the conference. This group of individuals represented the legal, medical management, client services, and marketing business verticals in workers’ comp.
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California Employers & Work Comp Stakeholders Sound Off
The nation’s largest workers’ compensation community came together recently in Dana Point, California to attend one of the country’s more prominent trade conferences. To kick off the event, a panel of work comp subject matter experts, representing system stakeholders and employers, was assembled to address issues ranging from California’s chief public official’s appetite to tamper with seemingly sound system reforms to automation and technology’s role in workers’ compensation.
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Turning the Clock Back on California’s Workers’ Compensation System
California’s Assembly Insurance Committee is having a public hearing on AB 1107 on Wednesday April 24th. Is the bill a step in the right direction in promoting prompt, adequate medical treatment for injured workers in the State of California? Fortunately, we have a material amount of data to help inform the answer to this question. Here is my take on the issue.
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The California King Case: Imperceptible Implications for UROs
Irrespective of overwhelmingly positive data published on appropriate UR decisions, the UR process becomes a target of criticism. Largely driven by a lack of understanding, a push to unravel this layer of protection for injured workers persists. The overutilization of unnecessary medical care is not a benefit, it is a risk. Here are my thoughts on how the King case may motivate this movement come next year’s legislative session.
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The Narrative of Workers’ Compensation is Changing
Tragedy has a way of spurring unexpected outcomes bringing people together from all walks of life and disciplines. Here are my observations on the paradigm shifts happening throughout workers’ compensation partly due to the global tragedy that is the opioid epidemic.
Carlos Luna News 