• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
 
Paradigm

Amaxx Workers Comp Blog

Reduce Workers Compensation Costs By 20-50%

Header Right

  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Search
    • Free Resources & Solutions
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Create Free Training Center Account
    • Enroll in On-Demand Courses
    • Activate WC Mastery Membership
    • Request Strategic Coaching Session
    • Buy WC Guidebooks
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
    • Coaching
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login

Mobile Menu

  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Search
    • Free Resources & Solutions
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Create Free Training Center Account
    • Enroll in On-Demand Courses
    • Activate WC Mastery Membership
    • Request Strategic Coaching Session
    • Buy WC Guidebooks
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
    • Coaching
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
You are here: Home / Claim Management / Develop Relationships to Reduce Work Comp Costs

Develop Relationships to Reduce Work Comp Costs

March 1, 2022 By //  by Michael B. Stack

Interested stakeholders in the workers’ compensation claims process need to focus on relationships and developing them to succeed in their program. These relationships allow everyone to gain trust and confidence and develop ideas. It can also help reduce workers’ compensation program costs and drive claims toward settlement. Now is the time to evaluate the relations within your program and take steps to develop them

Injury Management Partners Drive Success

It goes without saying that the success of a claim and resolving it effectively and timely start with actions taken at the time of injury. Timely reporting of work injuries requires employers to get accurate claim information in the correct format. Problems often arise when these two stakeholders are not on the same page. This is often the result of the employer and claim team not having a good relationship.

Click Link to Access Free PDF Download

“How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions?”

Now is the time for employers to develop a relationship with the claims team. Steps that can be taken today include:

  • Set up an in-person meeting or Zoom meeting to get to know each other. This meeting can exchange ideas and set expectations for each stakeholder.
  • Exchange complete contact information. This should include name, job title, direct dial, and email address. Employer representatives should also consider providing cellphone information that will facilitate quicker access; and
  • Set expectations regarding return to work policies and procedures. This requires each site to understand essential processes and procedures.

Employers can also consider other bridge-building activities. This can include a “vendor day” where service providers who work with the employer can visit their workplace locations to understand its mission better.

Review and Revise Account Handling Instructions

Employers also need to take immediate action to review the claim handling instructions – and continue to review them regularly. These instructions are important because they provide direction from the claim management team on how to manage claims. Issues to clarify include:

  • Selection of defense counsel and the composition of the attorney panel;
  • Clarification on doctors to be used for purposes of independent medical examinations;
  • When and how to consider and/or use structured settlements in claim resolution; and
  • Service providers to use for Medicare Secondary Payer compliance and the preparation of Medicare Set-asides.

This is not a complete list of items to consider as there are many different considerations in instructions for the claims team.

FREE DOWNLOAD: “How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions?”

Set and Conduct Regular File Reviews

File reviews are an excellent opportunity for employers to discuss issues in detail with a claim handler (and possibly defense counsel) and develop plans for effective resolution. The

There are countless benefits of holding regular file reviews. Some of the benefits include:

  • Develop a better level of comfort between the insured and insurer;
  • Set the framework for priorities on what claim(s) take priority;
  • Encourage the exchange of ideas that leads to creativity; and
  • Helps keep reserves set at an appropriate level.

The bottom line is that file review can improve efficiency and drive claims toward a settlement when done correctly. This can also include driving better communication between all interested stakeholders. Now is the time to consider holding file reviews.

Develop Relationships with Health Care Providers

All interested stakeholders can reduce workers’ compensation program costs by establishing relationships with healthcare providers. This proactive step increases the quality of medical received by the employee following a work injury and promotes the return to work.

Brides can be built with health care providers by taking the following steps:

  • Employers can establish a network of healthcare providers where employees can go following a work injury. This decision should be driven by data and analytics that evaluate the quality of care at a facility/network;
  • Use nurse case managers who know how to best communicate with doctors at healthcare facilities. Issues such as the direction of medical care and restrictions are vital areas; and
  • Using a trial and error approach determines if the data reviewed matches the results.

Conclusions

Interested stakeholders can take many steps to develop relationships within the workers’ compensation claims process. This requires employers to evaluate their service providers and better manage the claims process with the claims team. They should also review account handling instructions and meet with the claims team to review files. Insurance carriers and employers should also find the best-in-class provider network. When implemented effectively, stakeholders can reduce the costs of claims and reach a better result.

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 the founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center, which offers the Certified Master of Workers’ Compensation national designation.

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

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

©2022 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

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

FREE DOWNLOAD: “How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions?”

 

 

Filed Under: Claim Management

Related Articles

Dealing with Death: A Claim Handler’s Primer to Death Claims

Dealing with Death: A Claim Handler’s Primer to Death Claims

Have All The Right Information Before Changing Your TPA

Have All The Right Information Before Changing Your TPA

Red Flag Workers’ Comp Cost Drivers and How to Avoid Them

Red Flag Workers’ Comp Cost Drivers and How to Avoid Them

Appreciation in Workers’ Compensation

Appreciation in Workers’ Compensation

You’re Fired! Work Comp and Retaliation Claims

You’re Fired! Work Comp and Retaliation Claims

Select the Workers’ Comp Claims Administrator

Select the Workers’ Comp Claims Administrator

File Reviews: The Who, What, When, Where, and How to Conduct One

File Reviews: The Who, What, When, Where, and How to Conduct One

Is an Injured Employee’s Transitional Duty Work at a Charity Tax Deductible?

Is an Injured Employee’s Transitional Duty Work at a Charity Tax Deductible?

4 Strategies to Dispute a Workers’ Compensation Claim

4 Strategies to Dispute a Workers’ Compensation Claim

The Importance Of Employer’s Injury Investigation

The Importance Of Employer’s Injury Investigation

Effective Management of Service Providers to Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs

Effective Management of Service Providers to Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs

Reimage and Humanize Work Comp to Reduce Costs

Reimage and Humanize Work Comp to Reduce Costs

Free Download

How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions? - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Train to Succeed

BECOME CERTIFIED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Proven Course Catalog & WC Toolbox Give You The Power To Achieve Lower Costs and Better Injured Worker Outcomes

VISIT WORKERS' COMP TRAINING CENTER

Previous Post: « The Statue of Workers’ Comp Liberty
Next Post: Post Injury Response: Be Sure to Check all the Boxes »

Primary Sidebar

FREE DOWNLOAD

How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions? - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Our Sponsors

ARCADIA - Enhancing Settlement Outcomes

The Structured Settlements Company
 

Catastrophic and Risk Solutions, Case Management Solutions, and Specialty Networks
 

Post-Settlement Administration
 

Medcor

Injury Triage, Onsite Clinics

Read Our Award-Winning Blog

Blog Categories

Search Our Archive

Subscribe to Our FREE Newsletter

Return-to-Work Essentials

Footer

Search Our Archive

Search our continually growing archive of over 2500 articles about Workers' Comp issues.

Quiclinks

  • Calculators
  • Terms & Abbreviations
  • Glossary of WC Premium Terms
  • WC Resources
  • Best Practices
  • Industries
  • Return-to-Work Essentials

RSS Recent Blog Posts

  • Dealing with Death: A Claim Handler’s Primer to Death Claims
  • Tips and Traps to Effective Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance
  • Work Comp Expectations Dictate Injured Worker Experience
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEE NEWSLETTER
Let Us Help You Stomp Down the High Cost of Workers' Comp!
Top of Page ↑
  • Home
  • Training Center
  • Search
  • Membership
  • Products
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Login
Copyright © 2022 Amaxx, LLC. All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy / Legal Notice