Fall 2019
Quarterly News for State of Maryland Risk Managers
Maryland State Trooper's "Move Over" Message Goes Viral

A Maryland State Trooper from Prince George’s County has gone viral with his reminder for all drivers to move over.

Forestville Barrack Commander Lt. Jon Hill posted photos of three wrecked patrol cars on social media on Oct. 10. He said he was worried about the safety of his troopers after realizing the three vehicles were hit while on the side the road, while assisting at the scene of an accident or while conducting a traffic stop.

Lt. Hill’s post has since been shared more than 4,500 times. In it, he pleads: “Please, if you see an emergency vehicle, State Highway vehicle, or tow truck on the shoulder or in the roadway, slow down, move over one lane for safety when possible, and help me keep my troopers safe. We owe it to their families and to them.”

Reporters at WJZ-TV in Baltimore saw the post and ran with it on Oct. 16, increasing visibility of the important "Move Over" message even further. Watch the video here . And look for new signs focusing on Maryland's Move Over law at State-operated gas pumps in 2020!

Used with permission from the Maryland State Police and WJZ-TV.
SERMA Hosts 4th Qtr. Claims Management Training for Supervisors

Join our Special Investigations, Claims, and Risk Management specialists for a free, half-day training session. You’ll learn how to better manage your injury claims, keeping costs down for your agency and ensuring the best outcomes for your injured employees.

The training will be held on Mon., Nov. 18, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, English Hall, 5262 Woods Road, in Cambridge, MD 21613.

The training is free, but registration is recommended. To register, go to: https://tinyurl.com/qns7gqo or email Alicia Carlson at acarlson@ceiwc.com .
IWIF/Chesapeake Employers Sponsors MACo Conference

IWIF/Chesapeake Employers Insurance was a proud sponsor of and exhibitor at the annual Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Conference in August. In addition to county leaders and administrators, the Conference also attracts many Maryland State officials.

Pictured above are, from left to right, Ellington Churchill, Secretary, Dept. of General Services; Tammy Wescott, Director of Claims, IWIF; Mario Melfa, Safety Management Consultant, Chesapeake Employers Insurance; and Sam Abed, Secretary, Dept. of Juvenile Services.
New Safety Tip Sheet Available: Safety for New Employees

Chesapeake Employers has published a new Safety Tip Sheet focusing on workplace safety for newly hired employees. “Ensuring Safety for New Workers” was published in English on one side and Spanish on the other. Two versions are available: one for general industry and one for the construction sector. Both are in English and Spanish.

Studies show that employees in their first month on the job are at three times the risk for a lost-time injury than those on the job for more than 1 year. Additionally, a recent analysis of our private catastrophic injury and fatality claims found that 42% of these involved workers who had been on the job for less than 1 year.

The tip sheets are available in both paper and electronic format from your SERMA Risk Management Consultant. 
Adjuster's Tip of the Quarter: Send Comp-related Medical Bills to IWIF

If your injured worker receives a bill for medical treatment related to a compensable workers’ compensation claim, please inform the medical provider that the bill is related to a work comp claim. Then have the medical provider send us the medical report and bill for treatment related to the work comp injury.

For expeditious payment, the provider should use one of these proper forms:
CMS 1500, UB-04, or ADA Dental Claim Form. All comp-related medical bills should
be sent to:
IWIF
Attention: Medical Payment Dept.
P.O. Box 9899
Baltimore, MD 21284-9899
IWIF/Chesapeake Employers Insurance | 8722 Loch Raven Blvd., Towson, MD 21286