Claims veteran offers insurers advice for accurate ratings

Accurate impairment ratings are a win-win for everyone involved in the workers' comp industry. An unbiased, correct rating ensures employers pay the correct amount and injured workers have what they need and understand their functionality.

But with an error rate of nearly 80 percent, according to a recent study by the San Diego-based Impairment Resources, insurers need to ensure accurate ratings. Julie Osborne, Impairment Resources' COO, offers the following suggestions for insurers:

Set up programs that give expert assistance to adjusters to determine the degree of error.
Work with nurses on staff and educate them on providing the correct information to physicians to be able to develop an accurate rating.
Work with your attorneys so they can manage inaccurate ratings.
Work with your special investigations unit to identify areas of fraud.

October 11, 2010

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