Value Based Care, CA considers location-based reimbursement, Sleep and more…

Silvia Sacalis. Twitter @Healthesystems Value Based Care in WC Shouldn’t Have to Wait. Silvia weighs in on the trending topic of Value Based Care in workers comp, arguing that while the work comp system hasn’t been fast moving towards a value-based reimbursement system in the same way group healthcare has, there are areas where the work comp industry has embraced a more value-driven approach and has made significant progress.

Catherine Montgomery. Twitter @DaisyBillers Location-based reimbursement in CA? California workers’ comp providers may soon face another layer of complexity in calculating reimbursements: Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI), which would raise or lower reimbursement rates based on the location of service. The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) contends that GPCI will result in more appropriate reimbursements. Other stakeholders worry GPCI will not accurately reflect the cost of providing services in certain areas. Some wonder if further complicating reimbursement will court fraud, and cause new billing disputes regarding substantiation of the location of service. A public hearing is scheduled for April 17.

WorkCompInsights. Twitter @WCInsights Family of Pedestrian Killed by Autonomous Vehicle Settles with Uber. Interested in driverless cars in the news? Kelia Scott shares the latest development in the Uber autonomous vehicle accident where a pedestrian was killed in Tempe, Arizona. The family has settled with Uber for an “…undisclosed amount, avoiding a trial.”

William Zachry. Twitter @wzachry Sedgwick Institute. Traveling Much? Be sure to visit the Imperial Nap Museum. While a bit longer than typical posts on ExpertsinWC, Bill provides an interesting, timely, yet lighthearted look at why naps may be good after all. Just last week at WCRI, one of the sessions discussed an expected jump in workforce injuries partially due to a fatigued workforce. Why? Increased working hours due to employers unable to fill open positions…

Some consider business travel to be glamorous. However, business travel to different time zones can be exhausting leaving the traveler bone tired much of the time. The exhaustion is particularly aggravated when flights leave early morning, the travel time is long and the arrivals are at awkward times of the day. It is not just time zone differences but also dealing with foreign languages, the fact that the normal routines are interrupted and that even the simplest event or activity requires your full attention or things can go horribly wrong. When exhausted or distracted it is easy to overspend, leave important objects (credit cards) or personal equipment or possessions in cars, airplanes, or hotel rooms, etc. To avoid sleeping during meetings, people resort to;

-standing up,

-eating snacks

-drinking coffee

-pinching or slapping parts of the body

-turning up the air-conditioning

Sometimes nothing works. I have been so tired in business meetings that I have spoken incoherently and snorted myself awake. One of the best ways to fight business travel (road warrior) exhaustion is a visit to the “Imperial Nap Museum” (this is a notion taken from visiting various Map Museums in Europe).

The Imperial Nap Museum can be found in almost any country, at any office, in the back of taxis or Uber cars, in airplanes, in the lobby of a hotel, on trains, and particularly in your hotel room. It is one of the best places to visit when traveling, because it enhances your other experiences nicely. The layout of the museum is typically: a foyer, (a quick visit here can be quite refreshing) the Grand Ball Room (very deep REM sleep) and some enhanced rooms including special exhibits (such as soothing white noise or background music, eye-masks and earplugs).

It is best when one can visit the museum without waiting in line. Sometimes the museum is open early, however, it can be quite upsetting when the museum is closed early and you are kicked out before you have had enough time to visit all of the rooms (i.e. jet lag causing the eyes to open for the day at 3:30 am). Sometimes if you get your hand stamped, you can return to the museum if you have had to leave early. Unfortunately sometimes you have to wait in line for a hour or so before the staff will allow back in.

In Mexico, Spain and other Latin and Mediterranean countries they have incorporated a mid-day visit to the museum into their culture, referring to it as a “siesta”. However most “developed” countries do not encourage a formal visit to the museum during the day.

No matter what country you happen to be traveling, I highly recommend you incorporate a visit to the Imperial Nap Museum into your travel schedule. It can be quite refreshing (and actually offers health benefits!).