John O'Day

My thanks to The Florida Bar and the ASSOCIATION OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS PROFESSIONALS INC for another fantastic FLORIDA WORKERS COMPENSATION FORUM! Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC is proud to once again be a sponsor of this great event, allowing us the opportunity to speak to hundreds of work comp professionals about the latest on #medicaresecondarypayer compliance, including #mandatoryreporting, #conditionalpayments, and #setasideallocations. #rafaelgonzalezesq #cattiegonzalezpllc #ahigherstandardinmspcompliance

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My thanks to The Florida Bar and the ASSOCIATION OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS PROFESSIONALS INC for another fantastic FLORIDA WORKERS COMPENSATION FORUM! Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC is proud to once again be a sponsor of this great event, allowing us the opportunity to speak to hundreds of work comp professionals about the latest on #medicaresecondarypayer compliance, including #mandatoryreporting, #conditionalpayments, and #setasideallocations. #rafaelgonzalezesq #cattiegonzalezpllc #ahigherstandardinmspcompliance

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My thanks to The Florida Bar and the ASSOCIATION OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS PROFESSIONALS INC for another fantastic FLORIDA WORKERS COMPENSATION FORUM! Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC is proud to once again be a sponsor of this great event, allowing us the opportunity to speak to hundreds of work comp professionals about the latest on #medicaresecondarypayer compliance, including #mandatoryreporting, #conditionalpayments, and #setasideallocations. #rafaelgonzalezesq #cattiegonzalezpllc #ahigherstandardinmspcompliance

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My thanks to The Florida Bar and the ASSOCIATION OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS PROFESSIONALS INC for another fantastic FLORIDA WORKERS COMPENSATION FORUM! Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC is proud to once again be a sponsor of this great event, allowing us the opportunity to speak to hundreds of work comp professionals about the latest on #medicaresecondarypayer compliance, including #mandatoryreporting, #conditionalpayments, and #setasideallocations. #rafaelgonzalezesq #cattiegonzalezpllc #ahigherstandardinmspcompliance

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BARRIERS TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR HISPANIC WORKERS: According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 86% of private-sector employees work for establishments that offer health insurance. Hispanics have the lowest enrollment rates in employer-sponsored employee benefits at just 48%. The 3 main barriers to enrollment include: 1- Affordability 2- Lack of understanding; Healthcare is very complicated! Education and awareness are crucial 3- & limited access. Furthermore, those who are enrolled often miss out on utilizing their health insurance effectively due to a lack of proper education on how to use it. Hispanics, who constitute the nation’s largest racial/ethnic minority at 19.1% of the total U.S. population, and oftentimes are missed using healthcare, leading to higher emergency room visits compared to other ethnicities. By 2025, Hispanics are expected to make up nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population. It is vital to work with a benefits advisor who can innovate and tailor strategies, including education, outreach, resources, and services, to meet the needs of your employee demographic. Failing to do so could result in higher premiums and overall costs. My recommendation is to ensure your benefits advisor is proactive in addressing these issues to help your employees fully utilize their benefits and reduce overall healthcare costs!

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New episode of #DeconstructingComp available now! Rafael Gonzalez, Esq. and I really enjoyed this conversation as it touches on work we do day-to-day. We are so happy to bring you this episode featuring Dr. Crystal Cobos, Director of the Brain Injury and Concussion Clinic at Institutes Of Health and Anne McDonnell Advocacy and Affiliate Specialist for the Brain Injury Association of America and former Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia. In this episode, we discuss the recent development announced in late July by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: CMS now officially recognizes Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) as a chronic condition. According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) this is a victory for the brain injury community. CMS has added TBI to its list of chronic conditions for chronic special needs plans (C-SNPs) through its Medicare Advantage program, effective for the January 2025 plan year. What does this mean for brain-injured employees and the workers' compensation community? Bottom line — we see this as a good thing. Tune in to hear what more these two experts have to say about it. Check the comments for where to listen to the episode and other relevant links. ¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you for listening. We would appreciate you sharing our podcast with your friends on social media. Find myself and Rafael on Linked In or follow us on Twitter @deconstructcomp #workerscomp #workerscompensation #newepisode #braininjury #tbiawareness #CMS #biaa #brain #TBI #insurance #advocacy #support

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Up early this morning attending The Florida Bar ASSOCIATION OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS PROFESSIONALS INC FORUM. Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC is a proud sponsor of this great event, providing top notch Florida work comp legal and claims education to our industry professionals. Please stop by our booth to say hi, take a #RALFIE, and of course speak about the latest on #medicaresecondarypayer compliance, including #mandatoryreporting, #conditionalpayments, and #setasideallocations. #rafaelgonzalezesq #cattiegonzalezpllc #ahigherstandardinmspcompliance

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Up early this morning attending The Florida Bar ASSOCIATION OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS PROFESSIONALS INC FORUM. Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC is a proud sponsor of this great event, providing top notch Florida work comp legal and claims education to our industry professionals. Please stop by our booth to say hi, take a #RALFIE, and of course speak about the latest on #medicaresecondarypayer compliance, including #mandatoryreporting, #conditionalpayments, and #setasideallocations. #rafaelgonzalezesq #cattiegonzalezpllc #ahigherstandardinmspcompliance

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Floridians, brace for impact. Stay calm. Check your Hurricane evacuation zones at the link below. Enter your address & POOF🪄, you're informed. https://lnkd.in/e--PwW8X #Floridian #Florida #HurricaneSeason #HurricanePreparedness #Prepare #HurricaneHelene

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Parts of Florida are still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s devastation as they prep for yet another. Hurricane Milton is just below the threshold of a Category 5 storm, with intensity more than doubling in the past 24 hours. Total insured losses from Helene are now estimated between $10-17 Billion. This number keeps increasing as more damages are assessed. Damage models for Milton are estimating about $35 Billion in impacts. There is room for uncertainty and a chance that Milton will encounter unfavorable conditions as it nears the coast, weakening and keeping losses down. Full article linked in the comments below. #hurricanemilton #hurricanehelene #propertyinsurance 

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2023 and 2024 Florida Legislative Changes Will Increase Costs of Work Comp Settlements and Workers Compensation Medicare Set Asides During the 2023 legislative session, HB 487 (https://lnkd.in/eyGMe59a) amended section 440.13(12), F.S., requiring the Department to publish on its website, by July 1 of each year, the schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances for physician and non-hospital services. Subsequently, in the 2024 legislative session, SB 362 (https://lnkd.in/eZgVBe6v) increased the percentage of reimbursement for physician services from 110% to 175% of Medicare, and increased reimbursement for surgical procedures from 140% to 210% of Medicare. As per both of these changes, the Department has published on its website, the 2024 maximum reimbursement allowances for physician and non-hospital services, that will go into effect January 1, 2025, incorporating both legislative amendments. The published fee schedule, containing physician and non-hospital services, is no longer subject to approval by the Three-Member Panel and incorporates Medicare’s 2024 reimbursement values and can be found at https://lnkd.in/eMewp-wM. The Department plans to begin rule making in July of 2024 to remove the fee schedule from the rule containing the reimbursement manual while retaining the reimbursement policy portion of the reimbursement manual. It is expected that these changes will significantly increase the cost of funding future medical needs related to any workers compensation claim in which the injured worker is already a Medicare beneficiary or is likely to become one within 30 months of the settlement date. CMS expects such Workers Compensation Medicare Set Asides to be priced at the work comp fee schedule specific to that state, hence the new higher Florida work comp fee schedule. If however you are looking for an alternative solution, a realistic way to consider Medicare's future interests as it applies to the facts on the ground, a verified way to ascertain what that future responsibility looks like based on facts, issues, defenses, evidence, state law, and federal mandates, a proven solution that focuses on the legal aspects of your case and not just the medical components of your file, then contact us at www.cattielaw.com, [email protected], or 844.546.3500. #rafaelgonzalezesq #cattiegonzalezpllc #msalegalopinions #ahigherstandardinmspcompliance

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Get ready to power up your business at HR Florida! Don't miss your exclusive chance to network with Solstice's premier Sales Executives! Dive deep into enlightening industry conversations that promise to transform your enterprise! Together we succeed—let's skyrocket towards success! #HRFlorida #Solstice #IndustryInsights #ScalingSuccess #BusinessBoost

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IT IS OPEN ENROLLMENT TIME Hardins Grove Benefits is a leading employee benefits consulting firm, dedicated to empowering businesses with customized health and wellness solutions that drive both employee satisfaction and cost-efficiency. Our mission is to make high-quality benefits accessible and manageable, allowing companies of all sizes to attract and retain top talent while maintaining financial health. What We Offer: Comprehensive Benefits Strategy 1) We tailor our approach to each business, designing benefits packages that align with your company’s unique needs and culture. Whether you're a small business looking for affordable options or a larger organization needing a robust benefits strategy, we provide innovative solutions that make sense for you. 2) ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement) Expertise As experts in the ICHRA model, we guide businesses in adopting flexible health benefits that empower employees to select individual insurance plans. This approach often leads to greater satisfaction and allows for cost savings compared to traditional group health plans. 3) Cost Management & Compliance We ensure that all benefits programs we design adhere to the latest compliance regulations, helping businesses avoid costly fines and penalties. Our solutions also focus on cost management, leveraging strategic insights and data-driven decisions to optimize your benefits spend. 4) Dedicated Client Support Our commitment goes beyond strategy development; we offer ongoing support to ensure seamless program implementation and management. Clients have access to a dedicated team for assistance with everything from enrollment to claims support, making the benefits process smooth and straightforward. Why Choose Hardins Grove? 1) Customized Solutions: Every business is different. We provide tailored benefits packages that align with your unique goals and budget. 2) Proven Expertise: With years of experience, our team is knowledgeable, responsive, and committed to delivering the best results for our clients. 3) Focus on Flexibility and Choice: We emphasize empowering employees through flexible, choice-driven plans like ICHRA, allowing them to select coverage that best meets their needs. Learn more about how Hardins Grove Benefits can support your business at hardinsgrove.com.

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Press Release: Prime Insurance Introduces the TRU Solution for Reliable Coverage in Times of Crisis In the aftermath of recent storms and wildfires, policyholders need an insurance partner they can trust to provide comprehensive and straightforward coverage. Prime Insurance is proud to introduce the TRU Solution—designed to offer peace of mind through transparent, all-in-one coverage that responds when it matters most. Unlike policies that require separate coverage for risks like floods or earthquakes, Prime Insurance’s TRU Solution simplifies protection. Our approach ensures that customers know what to expect before a claim arises, with clear terms and prompt, fair service. We’re here to support our clients in both good times and bad, so they feel confident and protected. "Even my own son, Parker once thought our quote was too high, but when a wildfire came near, he realized how invaluable that coverage truly is," says Rick J. Lindsey, CEO of Prime Insurance. Prime Insurance stands by its clients, providing reliable, straightforward solutions. For more information on the TRU Solution and how XINSURANCE can meet your needs, contact us today. Contact Information: Agents : [email protected] Homeowners [email protected]

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Don’t miss the opportunity to meet and connect with Marsh McLennan Agency's Absence, Disability, & Life team at the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference. My colleagues, Jim Jantz, Phil Lacy, and Tim O’Connor will be speaking and moderating on essential compliance and leave management topics. Be sure to stop by the team’s booth and connect! For more information on each session, visit the link. #Management #Compliance

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