Michael E. Lents is a highly respected operational leader in the workers’ compensation industry, bringing more than three decades of experience in claims management, lien defense, and medical cost containment. His career began in 1988 with The Travelers Companies and California Casualty, where he developed a strong foundation as a claims examiner and a deep understanding of the claims lifecycle.

In 1991, Michael co-founded Lien On Me, Inc., helping pioneer lien defense strategies on behalf of employers, insurers, and third-party administrators. His early contributions helped shape structured approaches to lien resolution that remain foundational within the industry today.

Over the past 30+ years, Michael has led and managed large-scale programs encompassing lien defense, medical bill review, Medical Provider Networks (MPN), Utilization Review (UR), and nurse case management. His leadership spans major public and private entities, including the City and County of San Francisco, the County of Santa Clara, the City of Los Angeles, Preferred Employers, CIGA, ORCPG, U.S. Concrete, and numerous self-insured organizations.

Michael holds a California Self-Insurance Administrator’s Certificate of Achievement and is a designated Experienced Medical Bill Reviewer. He is also recognized for his role in establishing precedent-setting case law in Trustees’ Collection Service v. W.C.A.B., advancing third-party subrogation credit rights within California workers’ compensation.

As Chief Operating Officer, Michael is responsible for driving operational excellence across CostFirst’s integrated platform. His expertise in claims strategy, litigation management, and medical billing analysis ensures consistent execution and measurable results for clients. Known for his disciplined leadership and deep industry knowledge, Michael plays a critical role in aligning operational performance with CostFirst’s mission of advancing efficiency, accountability, and integrity in healthcare cost containment.