CFO's - Watch your WC costs

Here are 11 keys to prevent overcharges from robbing your financial statement:

1. Check your Experience Mod work sheet to confirm it’s 100% correct.

2. Establish relationships with medical providers that understand the Workers’ Comp system.

3. Delete the words “Hospital emergency room.” Only send injured employees to an ER as a last resort.

4. Take injured workers to the doctor/medical providers. Show your worker and the med provider how much you care.

5. Know the importance of proper payroll reporting. Report and pay premiums only on payroll that is necessary. You may have been overcharged for a considerable period. Even reporting lower payrolls may result in higher costs because of how the system operates.

6. Demonstrate a zero injury tolerance. Continually stress and educate your team in the disastrous effects of on-the-job injuries.

7. Check to see that you are receiving all the forms and information you are entitled to from the insurance company so you can monitor progress toward a minimum Experience Modification Factor.

8. When your insurance company pays for medical treatment and lost wages to an injured employee due to an injury resulting from a third-party’s negligence, make certain you have a process to follow up with your insurance company for recovering money spent so you are not penalized.

9. For “first-aid” type injuries, treat them yourself. Typically, claims of $500 or less carry substantial penalties. Payments of $500 or less, penalize you. We’re not suggesting you pay them, but review with your insurance company to see if there’s a better process for reducing your costs caused by smaller payments by the insurance company.

10. If you have employees in other states, different rules may apply. Check them out.

11. If you are a 24 hour business or multiple location/state business, do you have standard processes to cope with after hour or multiple state differences?


Source: Institute of WorkComp Professionals and the HAUSER group