| Winter 2008
Network Improves Return-to-Work Times
Texas Mutual Insurance Company created its workers’ compensation health care network to help injured workers get back on the job and help employers control their claim costs. Two years later, the Texas Star Network® is working exactly as the company envisioned.
This fall, the Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group (REG) released its second annual network report card. The report card showed that:
- Medical costs on in-network claims are, on average, 6 percent lower than they are on non-network claims.
- In-network patients return to work an average of 24 percent sooner than non-network patients.
- In-network patients report similar access to care as non-network patients.
"With Texas Mutual's network, our employees get treated faster and are back on the job sooner. It's reassuring to [them] to know we have a workers' comp carrier that cares about them."—Sally Casas
San Miguel Electric Cooperative
State law requires the REG to evaluate the network system once a year. The 2008 report card is partially based on a survey of 1,852 employees who have lost time from work due to on-the-job injuries.
“With Texas Mutual’s network, our employees get treated faster and are back on the job sooner,” said Sally Casas of San Miguel Electric Cooperative in Christine.
“It’s reassuring to our employees to know we have a workers’ comp carrier that cares about them. We’re saving money, and we’re getting a valued employee back in a timely manner, often the same day,” said Casas.
San Miguel Electric is one of nearly 30,000 Texas Mutual policyholders who have enrolled in the network. Network policyholders benefit from a select panel of doctors who are trained to treat workplace injuries. Network case managers coordinate with doctors to identify return-to-work opportunities.
“If you enrolled in our network, you made the right choice,” said Kim Haugaard, vice president of network and medical operations at Texas Mutual.
“We’re getting your injured workers to the right doctors to treat their injuries. We’re seeing the payoff in terms of quicker return-to-work times.”
Despite the favorable results of the report card, Haugaard acknowledges that there are opportunities for improvement.
Sixty-six percent of in-network patients who were not working at the time they were surveyed reported that their doctor had released them to return to work. The report card does not explain why the patients had not returned to work, but Haugaard suspects that employer education will help improve next year’s results.
“Network doctors are doing their part by delivering quality care and preparing injured workers to return to the job,” said Haugaard. “But employers have to be willing and ready to bring those individuals back to the team. We’ve got to do a better job of identifying modified duty before doctors release patients.”
Modified duty is work that injured employees can perform while they recover. Haugaard reminds employers that modified duty should always contribute to productivity and meet employees’ work restrictions as specified by their doctor.
Employers who want more information about their role in the return-to-work process can download a free “Return-to-Work Kit” for large businesses or small businesses. The kits outline five steps to a solid return-to-work process.
For more information about the Texas Star Network®, employers should ask their agent or click here.
COMPNEWS - Winter 2008
Award Winners Invest in Safety
Get Safety Tips
from the Pros
Network Improves
Return-to-Work Times
Keep the Flu
Out of Your Workplace
President's Message:
We’re Here for Texas for the Long Haul
You Need to Know:
Follow bills that could affect you
Manage your claims, improve your productivity
Austin lawyer heads up DWC
You need to know more
Fraud-Fighting Corner
Learn How to Control Your Workers' Comp Costs