Skip Maine state header navigation
Minutes
Bureau of Labor Standards
Third Floor Conference Room
September 14, 2005
Staff Present: Ted
Bradstreet, Steve Greeley, Terry Hathaway, & Leslie Manning.
Staff
Absent: John Rioux
Members Present: Sharon D’Orsie (USM), Carol Eckert (MIOHE), Ruth
Lawson-Stopps
(Occupational Health Associates), Jonathan Lepoff (Consultant), Kim Lim (Bureau
of Labor Standards), Desi-Rae Mason (Bureau of Health), Steve Minkowsky (Maine
Workers’ Compensation Board), Ivan Most (Strategic Occupational Health), John
Newton (OSHA), Cathy Schultz (Maine Workers’ Compensation Board), & Leslie Walleigh (Workplace
Health/Bureau of Health).
Members Absent:
Peter Crockett
(MLGH), Peter Doran (ALAM), Denise Dumont (U.S. HealthWorks), Saskia
Janes (Maine Public Health Association), Ginger Jordan-Hillier (DEP), Louise Morang (MAOHN),
& Pat Philbrook
(Maine State Nurses Association).
Guests: Michael Rowland (
Jonathan Lepoff called the meeting to order at 9:05 A.M.
Approval of June 8, 2005 Minutes. Ruth Lawson-Stopps made a motion to accept the minutes of
June 8th as written. Carol Eckert seconded the motion. Vote,
unanimous
Introductions were made.
Medical Only’s Update – Steve Minkowsky. Steve handed out the “Initial
Findings of Medical-Only First Reports”. This was based on a study done by
MEMIC (Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company) and Steve Minkowsky of the
Maine Workers’ Compensation Board in May of this year. MEMIC has an extremely
good database and they are pro-active. MEMIC has 65 percent of
Steve reviewed the observations and opportunities as well
as the recommendation, which reads as follows:
“Based on
the observations and opportunities described above, further study
of the collection of medical-only First
Reports is merited in order to reduce
the number of lost-time First Reports, to
reduce the number of indemnity
cases and to reduce the associated costs to
the workers’ compensation
system.”
Leslie Manning stated that MEMIC is on board and that we
are seeing significant results and that MORA should do a “road show”. Also
suggested as that MEMIC be invited to MORA.
Steve Minkowsky stated that the Occupational Safety and
Health Data Collection and Injury Prevention Work Group is mandated to have an
annual report due to the Legislature on January 1, 2005 as well as a follow-up
on January 1, 2006. Where do we go with
this? Why?
Ruth Lawson-Stopps said the medical-only first reports are
key rather than lost time first time reports. Ivan Most felt that it is
critical to get medical-only data as a perfect example for MORA to make a
statement.
Carol Eckert asked about the status of the report to the
Legislature that the Occupational Safety and Health Data Collection and Injury
Prevention Work Group. Bill Peabody responded saying that the report should be
final at the next meeting of the work group, which will be held Wednesday,
September 21st.
Ruth Lawson-Stopps indicated that MORA needs to continue
encouraging to move as quickly as possible for medical-only first reports. Ivan Most added that the longer an injury
goes, the worse it is (severity).
Leslie Manning said that the work group report needs to be
submitted to the Labor Committee to convince them that it is useful information
and if we are going to use medical-only first reports as indicators, we need to
do a “road show” with the insurers to show them that it is cost effective. She
further added that we start working with those programs already out there
(i.e., MEMIC). Steve Minkowsky said that MEMIC is willing to do that. Ivan
asked, “Could there be more than just MEMIC?”
Leslie Manning suggested that perhaps there could be more
representation on MORA from the larger companies (i.e., Cianbro, Hannaford,
BIW). Steve Minkowsky suggested they could testify to the Labor Committee.
Also, the “road show” could be three one-half day sessions (
September 25th to 27th is the
Workers’ Comp Summit at Sugarloaf.
Leslie Manning said that the work group should take the
lead as soon as they’re ready and should include education and MORA sponsor
roles with the Bureau of Labor Standards and Workers’ Compensation.
Ruth Lawson-Stopps informed the group that The Workers’
Compensation Coordinating Council is holding its annual meeting on Thursday,
October 27, 2005, 8:30 A.M., at the
Continued Discussion of MORA:
Interpretation. Leslie Manning informed the group
that Gwen Thomas, Assistant Attorney General, has been assigned extra duties;
therefore, no interpretation is available at this time.
Summary of Discussion with
Commissioner Fortman. Leslie
Manning has had discussions with Commissioner Fortman of the Department of
Labor as well as with Jane Gilbert, Deputy Commissioner. The summary is that
what MORA has is what the Governor’s office would like to see; i.e., provide
guidance, focus on the spotlight, etc.
Update. Ruth Lawson-Stopps and Leslie
Manning provided a brief report, “MORA, the Future, Thoughts and
Recommendations”. Along with this is the MORA Agenda, Research, & Process.
A copy is included with the minutes. The major points are:
Ø MORA will be one organization,
hosted by BLS
Ø Membership will be loose.
Ø There will be an Executive
Committee – Chair, Vice Chair, Program Chair, and Finance Chair.
Ø There will be a Program Committee –
responsible for working with MORA to identify two to three specific research
topics a year.
Ø There will be a Finance Committee –
responsible for identifying ways in which funds for research will be shifted
from a funding source to the researching party.
Ivan Most made a motion to accept the report. Carol Eckert,
seconded the motion. Vote to accept the report was unanimous.
So far, MORA has the following volunteers for the Program
Committee:
Ivan
Most
Leslie
Walleigh
Desi-Rae
Mason
Sharon
D’Orsie
So far, MORA has the following volunteers for the Finance
Committee:
Carol
Eckert
Leslie
Manning
Ruth Lawson-Stopps will work with Steve Minkowsky on
getting data regarding medical-only
first reports through other insurance companies.
Other. Kim Lim was asked to provide the MORA Conference Summary.
As for the financials, the cost of the conference was $20, 272.75. Kim is to
e-mail the evaluations to Terry Hathaway, who will e-mail them to MORA.
Ruth Lawson-Stopps thanked Kim Lim for putting the
Conference together.
Leslie Manning handed out the Bureau of Labor Standards’
SafetyWorks! class schedule for this Fall. Of interest, is a new class,
“Workplace Response to Domestic Violence-Advanced Course”. Leslie reported that there should be a survey
of employers on domestic violence and its effect on the workplace. Ted
Bradstreet will follow-up.
Leslie Manning received an e-mail for a two-day
course, sponsored by
Next Meeting – Wednesday, October 12, 2005.
Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 11:28 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Terry M. Hathaway