Injured workers with long-standing claims and ongoing medical concerns are often hesitant to settle their case because they fear running out of money too soon and potentially having no one to turn to for help. Increasingly, injured workers and their advocates are finding they can alleviate both concerns — by working with a professional administrator.
Professional Administration
Professional administrators are not new to the workers’ compensation system; however, few injured workers know or understand what they do and how they can help. Meanwhile, a growing number of claim settlements are now involving a professional administrator.
Recent advancements in pricing and capabilities have made administration a more cost-effective and elegant solution. Those who go with a professional administrator find they have more freedom of choice than under the workers’ compensation system, but can still take advantage of expert assistance and discounted prices for their medical needs.
Companies that excel in professional administration have large medical networks to offer discounts — for medical office visits, medications and durable medical equipment. The individuals that settle their cases, also known as “members,” save an estimated 20-30% on their annual medical care. These organizations also offer personal expertise to help navigate the complex healthcare system. Members can reap these benefits, without giving up precious dollars.
What members do give up are the restrictions of the workers’ compensation system; such as
- Utilization review
- Being required to see providers in inconvenient locations
- Difficulty contacting someone who understands their case and needs
Professional administrators also handle government regulations for Medicare, Medicaid and other government benefit programs. They take care of all reporting requirements.
Control of Funds
Some professional administrators are now using technology to simplify and assist members to get the benefit of expert oversight while maintaining full control over their money. Here’s how it works:
The professional administrator provides the member with a healthcare savings card that is used to pay for all medical care. The injured party or “member” receives their settlement money and deposits it in their own personal bank. Then, the member places the debit card for that account on file with the administrator for use for medical expenses. All subsequent medical bills go directly to the professional administrator, which applies its discounts and pays the bills from the debit card on file. There are no co-pays or out-of-pocket expenses involved.
However, the member has complete control over the account at all times. He or she can deposit and withdraw funds at any time. Activity on the account can be tracked by the professional administrator and available for viewing at any time by the member — including the discounts generated by using the card.
This newer online system can be easily accessed through smartphones and other electronic devices to see activity on the account. They also provide notifications, about advanced trending, for example, to monitor the account spending over a specific time period.
The platform functions similar to a clearinghouse by managing transactions and ensuring money is available to support any charges. Support personnel is available to answer any questions.
Some of the country’s largest companies offer the service at settlement to give their employees a better experience and to show goodwill. The healthcare savings card is just the latest service to simplify the injured worker’s post-settlement experience.
What to Look For
As with any industry, some professional administrators are better able to assist members than others. When looking at these companies, here are some of the issues to consider:
- Experience. The professional administrator should be comprised of people with solid backgrounds in all aspects of insurance, finance and healthcare.
- Large networks. The more robust the medical networks, the better the savings for the injured party. The company should be contracted with multiple providers, pharmacies, and durable medical equipment companies throughout the country.
- Price comparisons. Ideally, the company should be able to provide a comparison report showing the retail prices for the injured worker’s specific medications and the discounts currently offered through the professional administrator.
- Medicare expertise. Since a majority of workers’ compensation settlements involve Medicare Set-Asides, the professional administrator should be able to competently handle all reporting aspects required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- 24-Hour Help. The company should provide easy access to support personnel who can help coordinate medical care and recommend qualified providers.
- Expansive Resource Outreach. Each injured worker has different needs, and the professional administrator should have access to a wide network of people and organizations that can assist.
Summary
Injured workers seeking to settle their claims now have an option to get the support they need to manage their funds and comply with various regulations. A competent professional administrator can ensure these injured workers move forward with their lives.
