Northshore News

On July 25, 2018, Joseph (Joe) J. Yablonski, one of Northshore International’s three founding members, passed away following a 10-month medical battle. Joe passed at home, surround by his beloved wife of 34 years, Faith (Citroni), his son, Eric, daughter, Caitlin, and other close family members.  Following receipt of his bachelor’s degree from Nichols College, Dudley, MA, Joe served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. Most of Joe’s work career was in the insurance and reinsurance claims management and consulting arena, which began at Liberty Mutual in 1970. In November 1988, Joe joined David W. Ives, CPCU, and Mark E. Scerra, CPCU, in forming Northshore. Joe was a valuable contributor to the firm and well-respected partner and friend. Even though Joe “retired” in 2004, he continued to take on multiple challenging assignments each year - to stay connected and “young.” Joe specialized in reviewing Governmental Entity claim service providers and complex reinsurance programs.  Several of Joe’s long-standing clients would work their schedule around Joe’s availability, which is a testament to Joe’s technical skill and agreeable nature – clients loved working with Joe, and staff loved traveling with him. Whenever Joe was not on assignment, he was on a cruise with Faith, meeting up with Eric or Caitlin, or perfecting his skiing or golf game. Joe had an energetic and youthful soul.

Joe, you will be sorely missed by your family, friends, industry colleagues, and especially your “brothers and sisters” at Northshore International.

Final arrangements were provided by Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Londonderry, NH, August 5, 2018.

2018 Medical Excess Conference Announced

Northshore International Insurance Services, Inc. is proud to announce the dates and location of Northshore's 29^th Annual Medical Excess Claims Conference. This year's conference will be held from Tuesday, May 8^th, through Thursday, May 10^th 2018 at The Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel in Portsmouth, NH; a new sea-side location for its conference. Northshore's Medical Excess Claims Conference is an invitation-only event attended by claims, medical management and underwriting professionals representing MGUs, carriers and reinsurers throughout the country. While keeping its core claim, cost management and industry topical sessions, as well as the highly-regarded Roundtable session, Northshore is adding Provider Excess and Aggregate Claim educational workshops to its agenda.

Northshore Announces Two New Shareholders

Danvers, Massachusetts – As of January 1, 2018, Charles H. Betz, III, (Chab) and Tammy Burns have become Principals and Shareholders of Northshore International Insurance Services, Inc. [“Northshore”].  As Corporate Vice Presidents, Mr. Betz and Ms. Burns have been long-standing and highly valued members of the Northshore Management Team.

While Mr. Betz has been active in conducting and managing Property and Casualty claims and compliance reviews, he is the principal practice leader of Northshore’s Lloyd’s Coverholder audit team, which reviews more than 400 Lloyd’s Coverholders annually.  In addition to his more than 30 years of claims management and audit experience, he has earned Chartered Property/Casualty Underwriter and Casualty Claim Law Associate designations.  Mr. Betz earned his B.S. from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Ms. Burns conducts review and analysis of Medical Excess, Provider Excess and HMO Reinsurance claims on behalf of Managing General Underwriters, Issuing Carriers, and Reinsurers, supervising a 12 person staff.  Her professional efforts have been widely praised for technical quality and responsive service.  She also oversees technical management of Northshore’s Managed Care Claims Adjudication System.  Her prior experience includes 25 years of technical medical claims review, internal and external medical claims auditing, training and customer service for national life insurance carriers.  Ms. Burns earned her B.A. from Merrimack College, Andover, Massachusetts.

David W. Ives, Chief Executive Officer, commented “Growing and meeting the expanding and evolving needs of more than 300 Northshore clients depends upon our ability to develop excellent business leaders like Tammy and Chab.  As claims technical experts, they continue to recruit and train a strong team of claims and audit professionals.”

Staff Announcements

Danvers, Massachusetts – Northshore is pleased to announce the transition of one of our Shareholders and the promotion of another staff member.  Effective March 31, 2016, Norman C. Tardif, J.D., a long-standing Principal of the firm, will retire from employment at NiiS.  Norm will remain actively engaged in the Company in a consulting capacity, working on a select number of projects throughout the year.  For 27 years, we have valued Norm’s work ethic, wisdom and good humor.

As of January 1, 2016, Susan A. Arsenault has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Shareholder of Northshore.  As a long-time member of the Northshore Management Team, Susan’s leadership of the Accident & Health unit, within the Audit and Consulting division, has been exemplary; she has successfully balanced the needs of an array of clients, while recruiting, training and supervising a dedicated staff.  Susan’s professional efforts have been widely praised for both technical quality and responsive service; she is well-prepared and deserving of her expanded leadership role within Northshore.

“Susan and Norm have made significant contributions to the success of our clients and, consequently, the company’s growth.  Susan’s promotion recognizes the role she has played in our success, and we are pleased that Norm will remain as an active and contributing force in our future,” commented David W. Ives, Chief Executive Officer. 

2016 Medical Excess Claim Conference Dates - May 11-13

The conference dates for Northshore's 27th Annual 2016 Medical Excess Claims Conference have been announced. This year's conference will be held from May 11 through May 13 at the Hawthorne Hotel  in historic Salem Massachusetts.If you have not already received your invitation please contact us immediately!

This conference is a much anticipated industry event. Every year our panel of expert speakers provide informative and timely analysis concerning current industry trends and practices.Conference attendees include medical claims specialists and underwriters from the United States, Canada and international excess and reinsurance companies, managing general underwriters, and other top professionals in the excess and reinsurance claims arena.

The 25th Annual Medical Excess Claims Conference has successfully concluded!

The 25th Annual Medical Excess Claims Conference has successfully concluded. Thanks to all participants for helping to make it such a success! Click on the link below to read our press release for more details and attendee comments. The 26th Annual Claims Conference has been scheduled for May 6-8, 2015. Save the Date!

MECC Press Release

2014 NiiS Medical Excess Claims Conference Agenda Now Available!

The agenda for the 25th Annual Northshore Medical Excess Claims Conference has been posted on the NiiS Conference web page.

Since 1989, Northshore International has provided a forum for medical excess claim professionals to meet with their peers and industry experts to discuss current and emerging topics impacting medical claims and excess coverages.

The 25th Annual Northshore Medical Excess Claims Conference will be held May 7-9, 2014 at the historic Hawthorne Hotel in Salem Massachusetts.

The 2014 topics will include changes in hospital reimbursement models, catastrophic medical costs trends, Medicare based reimbursement models, surgical implants and innovative approaches for controlling case management/vendor costs. The conference will also include sessions discussing challenges in specific excess claims and concludes with a roundtable discussion led by founder and Chief Executive Officer, David W. Ives, CPCU.