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OSIA Spring Newsletter
Spring 2015
Inside this issue:
Executive Director
2
Calendar
3
President’s letter
continued
3
Dir. of Marketing &
4
New member article 4
Case Updates
9
National Conference 11
Volume 2, Issue 1
President’s Letter
Time is sure flying by and spring is almost upon us. Spring is
always a sign of hope,
new ideas & beginnings.
We will continue to observe the Commission
so we will be able to
provide relevant education at our 2015 Fall
Conference. The 2014
Fall Conference brought
the members an opportunity to address some
issues that arose and
how we could handle
them. Now with the
Legislative session in
full swing we have to
see what new bills are
being filed, what will
continue to go through
and how it will end up
in May. OSIA is here
going through the process, as voice for our
membership.
Conti. Pg 3
OSIA Breakfast Meeting - Friday March 13th
Check out all the
pages for valuable
information!
Special points of interest:

Case Updates

Calendar

Breakfast Meeting Sponsors

New Members

Vendor ads!
RSVP By Friday March 6th
Winter Newsletter
Page 2
Executive Director Report
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The legislative session began Monday, February 2 and will continue through the last Friday in May.
The OSIA is representing your issues at the capitol everyday to protect your interests. We currently have 17
bills on our tracking list. You may click here ( http://jrlr-prod.legislativereport.com/lr/report_builder/
ad207a3f0420316cc155a82154aea8c8) to review the list and bills. The legislature is still trying to allow the
provisions of Senate Bill 1062 to fully implement and improve the cost of workers’ compensation of Oklahoma. To this end, leadership is still trying to stem any bills that would have sweeping changes.
The OSIA is working with leadership to amend the Self Insurers Guarantee Fund on issues dealing
with the assessments. For the most part, we are simply working on some clarifying language and trying to
insure that assessments only occur annually, if necessary, to help with your budgetary needs.
There are also several bills that deal with the commission’s use of executive session, budgetary issues
and court reporters. The OSIA will work closely with members of the legislature on all of these bills.
Breakfast with Commissioner John Doak
Please join us for a breakfast meeting with Insurance Commissioner John Doak Friday March 13th at
9:00 am. Commissioner Doak has done a wonderful job as our Insurance Commissioner and is always very
interested in the self-insurer community. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the department’s new
role under Senate Bill 1062. I would also like to thank Healthsmart Casualty and all of our breakfast sponsors
for hosting this event.
Please remember that some of the best legislative information I can get is from our members out in the
field dealing with issues every day. If you hear something or have a question about any legislative issue,
please give me a call, text or shoot me an email. I am here to represent your needs and encourage your input.
Thank you for your continued participation and support of the Oklahoma Self Insurers’ Association.
Patrick Gaines
Cell: 405-831-7092
Email: [email protected]
Patrick Gaines
Executive Director and Lobbyist, OSIA
Volume 1, Issue 2
Calendar of
Events
Page 3
Continued from pg 1.
Patrick Gaines, our Executive Director and Lobbyist, is right in the
middle addressing our concerns and fighting for what is beneficial to the selfMarch 13, 2015
insured employer. Hopefully you have all had a chance to meet Mr. Gaines and
Breakfast Meeting
or speak with him. Your voice is needed, so please give him a call or email him
8:30 am Breakfast
if you have any questions with the needs of the self-insured and high deductible.
Healthsmart Casualty
OK. Insurance Commissioner Patrick will have a Legislative Update inside the newsletter, please see his contact information.
John Doak
June 24th - 26th, 2015
Oklahoma Safety &
Health Conference
Mission Possible
Embassy Suites, Norman OK
www.oksafety.org/
May 31st - June 3th, 2015
National Council of
Self Insurers
2015 Annual Meeting
St. Pete Beach, FL
www.natcouncil.com/meet.html
July 2015
Breakfast Meeting
TBA
Tulsa, OK
October 15th, 2015
OSIA Golf Tournament
TBA
October 16th, 2015
OSIA Fall Conference
Embassy Suites Norman, OK
September 21st, 2016
OSIA Golf Tournament
Cherokee Golf Course
September 22nd, 2016
OSIA Fall Conference
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
OSIA wants to make sure you are all attending the March 13th Breakfast
Meeting with the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak. Mr. Doak will
be giving everyone the OID’s update and role under the Workers’ Compensation
Bill. Patrick Gaines will be giving a Legislative Update . Please make sure to
RSVP by March 6th and bring a non-member also. OSIA is working hard to have
all self-insured and high deductible businesses dealing with Workers Compensation a member. Together we learn, exchange ideas, and become stronger with our
voice. I hope to see you all there, please check inside for all the details.
I would like to welcome a new Board Member, Jason Boesch with
OAEC. Jason Boesch was appointed by the Board to fill a vacant term due to the
resignation of Chris Meyers. Please welcome Jason to the OSIA and we look forward to working together.
If you have any questions about your membership please give Wendy
Gerdes a call at 405-604-0343. Membership dues were sent out in December and
we have been working hard to get everyone’s information up to date. The new
2015 directory we hope to have ready for the Breakfast Meeting or shortly thereafter. Thank you to all the advertisers in it, your support is greatly appreciated.
The OSIA is hard at work on the Fall Conference in October. Please
mark your calendar for October 15th and 16th at the Embassy Suites in Norman.
If you have some ideas on topics you want to see addressed please let Wendy
Gerdes know, email her! OSIA is here for you and wants your input. Cannot
wait to see what the education committee is working on.
See you Friday March 13th!
Charles Folkner
OSIA President
Welcome New Members
The Holmes Organisation. Inc.
Associated Underwriters, Inc.
1350 S Boulder, Suite 1000
P.O. Box 22477
Tulsa, OK 74119-3223
Contact: Cheryl King
Claims Consultant
918-359- 6129– Phone
918-359- 71129– Fax
918-625-2237 - Cell
[email protected]
Oklahoma City, Ok 73123
Barney Welch
Telephone: 405-773-0200 X 103
Fax: 405-384-3052
Director of Marketing & Membership Report
Happy Spring Everyone,
I want to say Thank you to everyone renewing their OSIA membership dues. Your support is amazing
and appreciated greatly. Hopefully you have received your 2015 membership dues certificate and the new
OSIA logo cling that you can adhere to your window or glass door. Showing off your OSIA membership to
others is important. OSIA is here to help you in your business in many ways: education, sharing ideas with
others, meeting vendors that can help you, Lobbying , newsletters, and discount to the National Council of
Self Insurers Conference.
The first of 2 Breakfast Meetings is Friday March 13th, hosted by Healthsmart Casualty in Oklahoma
City. Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak is our quest speaker, giving our members an update on
the OID and their role under the Workers Compensation bill. Patrick Gaines, OSIA’s Executive Director will
be addressing the membership on the Legislative Issues this year. Valuable information for everyone, so
please RSVP to attend. Registration is free for members and please bring a non-member self insured along,
spread the word.
Thank you to our 2 Gold Level Sponsors, Edmond Orthopedic Group and CorVel! Thank you to our 4
Co-Breakfast sponsors; MIDLANDS, Redbud Physical Therapy, United Safety & Claims, & Human Performance Centers. Thank you to every-one of you for making this Breakfast meeting a success. Each of the
Sponsors time & support is truly appreciated and we know they will be very pleased to receive your thanks
when you attend the meeting.
The Tulsa Breakfast Meeting will be in July, we are working on a location and date to be announced
shortly. Let me know if you are interested in being a sponsor.
OSIA is working hard for the Fall Conference already. We are very excited to be at the Embassy
Suites in Norman this year. The dates are October 15th for the Golf Tournament and October 16th for the
Conference.
Call or email me if you need anything! Thank you!!
Wendy Gerdes - Director of Marketing & Membership
[email protected] 405-604-0343
.
New Member - The Holmes Organisation
One of the largest independent agencies in the Midwest, The Holmes Organisation serves clients in 48 states
and abroad. Founded in 1965, the Tulsa-based firm employs more than 60 insurance professionals and represents most major U.S. insurance companies and hundreds of non-standard insurance companies.
The firm’s practice areas extend across risk management, commercial insurance, employee benefits, 401k,
life, and personal insurance.
While Holmes provides insurance, employee benefits and wealth management solutions, we take it a step
further – we recognize and quantify risk. The Holmes Organisation employs a proprietary methodology
called Beyond Insurance®, an ongoing process that helps the firm identify, address and manage risks dynamically, as they change.
Holmes also offers employers unique programs to improve the delivery of healthcare to their employees –
from Direct Contracting, where companies can take an active approach in controlling the quality, service and
price of healthcare benefits, to the innovative $0 Card, which helps employers save costs and offer employees transparent pricing for medical procedures.
Contact: Cheryl King
Claims Consultant
The Holmes Organisation, Inc.
918-359- 6129– Phone
918-359- 71129– Fax
918-625-2237 - Cell
[email protected]
Join OSIA at the Breakfast Meeting March 13th
With Guest Speaker
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak
In January 2011, John D. Doak became the 12th Insurance Commissioner of
Oklahoma. He was sworn in to office for a second term on January 12, 2015, after receiving 77 percent of
the vote.
Doak graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Shortly after
graduation, Doak opened a successful insurance business in Tulsa.
As his career thrived, Doak worked in numerous roles within the insurance industry. He served as an executive for several risk and insurance service companies including Marsh, Aon, HNI and Ascension.
Under Commissioner Doak’s leadership, each year the Oklahoma Insurance Department has operated under
budget. In the last four years, the Department has returned a total of $22.5 million in unspent funds to the
state treasury and has generated more than $1 billion in revenue for the State of Oklahoma.
As an active member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Doak is the Vice Chair of the
Property and Casualty Insurance Committee, the Chair of the American Indian and Alaska Native Liaison
Committee, and a member of the International Insurance Relations Committee. Doak also shapes important
national insurance policy issues as a member of the Government Relations Leadership Council.
Doak is committed to protecting all Oklahomans by his pledge to visit all 77 counties annually. During his
visits, which he has done each year since taking office, he promotes public awareness of important insurance
issues through education and community outreach.
Doak and his wife Debby live in Tulsa with their children, Zack and Kasey. They are members of the South
Tulsa Baptist Church.
Would you like to place an ad in the OSIA newsletter?
1/2 page ads are 50.00 per issue
Full page ads are $100.00 per issue
Give it a try! Call or email Wendy Gerdes
405-604-0343 [email protected]
Workers’ Compensation Update:
Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation law has changed several times over the past few years. Most recently, and most significantly, Title 85A was enacted for injuries occurring on or after February 1,
2014. This legislation did away with the Workers’ Compensation Court for injuries after February 1, 2014,
and replaced the Court with the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
With the enactment of the Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act there have been many changes in
benefits, definitions and procedures. Some of the changes are long needed; however, there have been many
changes that have caused concern as it relates to the erosion of exclusive remedy. There has now been an
Order from a Judge of the District Court denying a defense Motion to Dismiss an apparent work related injury.
In Pottawatomie County, a judge has allowed a case to proceed in District Court based on the definition of
“compensable injury”. Compensability injury, as found in Title 85A, Section 2 (9)(a), is defined as follows:
"Compensable injury’ means damage or harm to the physical structure of the body, or prosthetic appliances,
including eyeglasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids, caused solely as the result of either an accident, cumulative trauma or occupational disease arising out of the course and scope of employment. An "accident" means
an event involving factors external to the employee that: (1) was unintended, unanticipated, unforeseen, unplanned and unexpected “. In this case, the judge has ruled that since the apparent work related injury was
“foreseeable”, it didn’t fit the definition of a work related injury as defined by statute, therefore, the Motion
to Dismiss the District Court action was denied. The injured worker’s attorney is now free to prosecute the
case outside of Workers’ Compensation.
This has been concern since enactment of Title 85A. This matter has been appealed directly to the Oklahoma
Supreme Court. However, if this ruling is allowed to stand the implications are far reaching, as injured employees could argue that almost all injuries are “foreseeable” in an attempt to move many cases to District
Court. We expect other provisions to be challenged as well. As always, we will keep you advised as the
case progresses
Patrick S. Parr
Attorney at Law
McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, P.A.
2021 South Lewis, Suite 225
Tulsa, OK 74104
Main: 918-771-4465
Fax: 918-747-7726
[email protected]
www.mvplaw.com
This article was only available by receiving the newsletter in the mail.
Membership Only.
National Council of Self Insurers - 2015 Annual Meeting
The Conference is May 31-June 3, 2015 at Loews Don Cesar Hotel
in St. Pete Beach, FL
Member price is $675 and non-member is
$975.
These are early registration prices. Late
registration prices are $775 and $1075
beginning on May 10th.
OSIA members are also
National Council Members.
If you have any questions, you may contact Dave Kaplan, Executive Director, by
email at [email protected] or by phone at 206-409-6995.
http://natcouncil.com/meet.html
Next Breakfast Meeting will be in July, in the Tulsa area.
Looking for a location, do you have one we can use?
Topics to be discussed will be the end of year legislative update and
something more.
Do you have any ideas? Share with us!
Sponsor information will be available shortly.
Call the OSIA office if you need anything.
405-604-0343
Thank you!!
Member Benefits
It is important to keep
your membership
dues up to date.
Receive:
*Discount to Annual
Conference
*Vendor Member discount for Booth
*Vendor Members Only
can sponsor/attend
Breakfast Meeting
*Educational Breakfast
Meetings for Free
*National Council Discount for Annual Conference
*Lobbyist - Your Voice
*OSIA Website
*Membership Directory
Listing
*Golf Tournament
*Quarterly Newsletter
Your OSIA Dues are due !
OSIA is here for their
membership!
Please keep current so you do not
miss anything!
If not a member, you can
join today!
Thank you.
OSIA
P.O. Box 14059
Oklahoma City, OK 73113
Phone: 405-604-0343
Email: [email protected]
Wendy Gerdes - Director of Membership & Marketing
http://
www.oklahomaselfinsurers.com