Workers’ compensation claims and insurance are not things an employer can leave to chance. The company’s managers need to actively work to manage the direct costs of workers’ compensation insurance, as well as indirect costs from lost productivity.
Brian Chance, vice president, Claim Services, at ECBM, says workers’ compensation insurance cost is based on a fairly strict pricing model that is heavily regulated by states. An employer’s actual claim expenses play a large role in the calculations that are done in order to price their insurance.
“An employer’s workers’ compensation claim experience has a direct impact on the cost of workers’ compensation insurance,” he says. “Larger employers may be self-insured to some extent and pay every dollar of their claims, and therefore, time and energy should be spent to reduce claim costs. Each dollar saved could be their own or will reduce the impact the claim will have on their insurance pricing.”
Smart Business spoke with Chance about the best techniques for managing workers’ compensation.
Are there certain industries where managing workers’ compensation is more critical than others?
All employers are subject to the same insurance pricing model, and therefore, all employers benefit from managing their claims. However, in certain industries — especially construction — a company’s claim experience may be reviewed in order to qualify it for contracts. Companies with worse than average claim experience may find themselves precluded from bidding on certain projects. Consequently, employers that ignore their workers’ compensation claims will spend money they would otherwise be saving, and some may find they are precluded from working.
If a company doesn’t effectively manage its workers’ compensation claims, what can be problematic?
The direct impact of not managing workers’ compensation claims is an increase in insurance costs or the out-of-pocket expenses paid by larger employers. However, there are many indirect costs employers suffer when an employee is injured. Studies have shown that for every dollar paid for a claim, the employer suffers $5 in indirect costs. Some of these costs are lost productivity due to the missing employee, the cost of errors or rework caused by inexperienced replacement employees, and poor employee morale.
Another misstep is that many employers assume that their role in the claims process ends after they report a claim. Employers that take a proactive role in managing their claims and the actions taken by their insurance carriers see lower costs as a result. Employers should have an ongoing dialogue with their injured employees and their insurance carrier in order to ensure that all steps are being taken to facilitate a return to work and reduced costs.
What are some best practices to use when managing claims?
The first thing you, as an employer, can do is report employee injuries as quickly as possible after an injury. Injuries reported more than three days after they occur cost more for each day the report is delayed. When you ignore an employee’s injury, the employee might find his or her way to an attorney and feel as though you are trying to avoid responsibility for the injury.
You also should return injured employees to work as quickly as possible by utilizing a transitional duty return-to-work program. Employees working in a modified duty capacity tend to heal faster, return to full duty quicker and are less inclined to use their claim as a way to punish their employer.
Additionally, you should identify local medical providers to treat your injured employees. Medical provider partners are most important to the ultimate cost of the claim because they determine the need for treatment and the extent of the disability. Medical providers who specialize in occupational injuries and understand your transitional duty program are critical to your ability to manage your claim costs.
Are certain areas within workers’ compensation becoming more critical to monitor?
Yes. As all employers know, the cost of medical insurance goes up every year due to inflation. That same inflation impacts workers’ compensation treatment costs, as well. Therefore, it is critical for employers to partner with providers that offer high-quality care at a discount. Employers with transitional duty return-to-work programs enjoy lower medical treatment costs on their claims because employees who are working tend to seek less medical treatment.
In addition, the U.S. government has spent a great deal of time and money in order to protect the interests of the Medicare system. Claims involving Medicare beneficiaries must be handled properly; otherwise, the employer and its insurance carrier could be subjected to extraordinary fines and penalties.
Once you put management techniques in place, how should you measure their effectiveness and then adjust accordingly?
Once you, as an employer, begin to manage your claims, you should see a reduction in the number of lost workdays you record on your Occupational Safety and Health Administration log. You will also observe a reduction in the payments being made on your claims and have fewer employees out of work.
Brian Chance is a vice president, Claim Services, at ECBM. Reach him at (610) 668-7100 or [email protected].
