| Summer 2010
Want to Learn How to Manage Claims, Prevent Accidents and Fight Fraud?
Come to a free workshop
By David Wylie • senior editor
Eileen Cook loves to tell stories about her life in law enforcement. One of the best involves a homeowner who held a burglar at gunpoint. When Eileen and her male partner arrived on the scene, her partner ran to her side of the car, intent on doing what any gentleman would do: open her car door.
"I just about knocked him over," laughed Eileen. "I appreciated his manners, but I was kind of in a hurry. Times have changed."
They certainly have. Eileen left law enforcement in 1984, but she never put her crime-fighting instincts on lockdown. Nowadays, she heads up Texas Mutual’s claimant fraud unit.
Eileen told a group of employers about her second career during a recent workers’ compensation workshop hosted by Texas Mutual.
"When you consider that indirect costs can be up to four times higher than direct costs, there is no question that safety pays."
—Angela Gardner
Texas Mutual loss prevention consultant
"This was my first time to attend this type of training," said a workshop guest. "I learned so much. I will definitely spend time looking and learning more on your website."
Each free workshop includes presentations by Texas Mutual safety, claim and fraud-fighting professionals. Nearly 100 percent of attendees say the workshop teaches them how to better manage their claims, prevent workplace accidents and partner with Cook’s team to fight workers’ compensation fraud.
"We’re just talking about a small group of claimants who commit fraud," said Cook. "Most claimants are honest. They just want to get well and back to work."
Employers can help make that happen. Kirk Lair of our claim team showed them how during his presentation.
Start by monitoring injured employees’ work status. DWC Form-73, Texas Workers’ Compensation Work Status Report, is a convenient way for doctors to tell you when injured employees can return to work, and under what restrictions. From there, make a bona fide offer of employment.
"The law is very specific about bona fide offers," cautioned Lair. "You must send the employee an offer letter that includes all the information required by law. That includes a statement that you will not ask the employee to do anything the doctor has restricted him or her from doing on DWC Form-73."
The form, as well as a Return-to-Work Kit that includes a sample bona fide offer letter, is available at texasmutual.com/safety/rtwtools.shtm.
"I found this workshop very informative," said another workshop guest. "I am new to workers’ comp, but I feel more knowledgeable and prepared to handle claims."
Of course, the best way to handle claims is to prevent accidents from happening. Angela Gardner of our loss prevention team gave the group plenty of reasons to pay attention by showing how workplace accidents affect the bottom line.
Gardner explained that workplace accidents carry direct and indirect costs. Direct costs, which insurance carriers cover, include medical and income benefits for injured workers. Indirect costs, such as making up for lost production and repairing damaged equipment, come out of your pocket.
"When you consider that indirect costs can be up to four times higher than direct costs, there is no question that safety pays," said Gardner.
Gardner pointed out that Texas Mutual policyholders can take advantage of free tools in the Safety Resource Center at texasmutual.com. In fact, the company recently upgraded the site to include streaming videos on a variety of safety topics. Many are available in English and Spanish.
Gardner, Cook, Lair and the rest of the workshop team are taking a short break for the summer. They will return in September with a full slate of workshops in Kilgore, McAllen, Lubbock, Dallas/Fort Worth, Odessa and Houston. To register for a free workshop, visit texasmutual.com/employers/workshops_ph.shtm.
COMPNEWS - Summer 2010
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