4 More Ways to Spring Clean Your Workers’ Comp Program

Spring is here and it’s time to clean out the junk in your garage and trim the bushes. As we go through our annual spring cleaning ritual at home, it’s also time to take a look at tuning up your workers’ compensation practices.

See 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Workers’ Comp Program

Here are 4 additional ways to spring clean your workers’ comp program:

Cooperate Fully with the Claims Adjusters

Stay in contact with all your injured employees who have not returned to work. In addition, make the commitment to stay in contact with the claims adjuster(s) handling your work comp claims.

You work comp claims coordinator should be exchanging information with the adjuster(s) on all claims on a regular basis. You may know important information that will assist the adjuster in bringing the claim to a speedy conclusion.
Or, the adjuster can coordinate with the nurse case manager on the information you provided about the employee’s medical concerns.

Update the Medical Treatment Panel

If you have not revisited your posting on required medical providers (or recommended medical providers in the states where the employee selects the medical provider), now is an excellent time to do so. Set up a conference call and consult with the work comp adjuster(s) and the nurse case manager(s) on your work comp claims.

Do any of the doctors on your medical treatment panel list seem to keep employees off work longer than others?
Do any of the doctors seem to have to operate on employees more than other doctors?
Do any of the doctors on your medical treatment panel fail to provide timely medical reports to the adjuster(s) or nurse case manager(s). .
Are there any doctors the adjuster(s) or nurse case manager(s) would recommend to be added to your medical treatment panel?

Use the Expert Panel if your TPA has one. If your TPA doesn’t have one, consider changing your TPA.

Fight Fraud Religiously

An excellent spring renewal is to fight fraud. In addition to your anti-fraud posters, start a fraud hotline for other employees to report fraud anonymously to a tip-line.

Offer a reward for anyone who reports a work comp fraud that results in a criminal conviction.
Make sure all your employees know about your Return To Work Program that will prevent them from being off work any longer than is necessary.
Always report any suspicious claim to the Special Investigations Unit of the insurer.

Improve Your Medical Management Program

Make the commitment to maximize your medical management program. Review all your programs to control medical cost.

Consider ways you can improve your use of nurse case managers, utilization reviews, pharmacy benefit managers, medical fee bill reviews, durable medical equipment, independent medical examinations and peer reviews.
Seriously consider Injury Triage for all injuries. Employees love it and it will reduce your claims volume significantly.

Michael Stack - Amaxx Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%. He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.