Workers’ Comp Claims - How to Save Your Business Time and Money by Streamlining

Paperwork is piling up on your desk, and you just can’t seem to get ahead.

Workers’ compensation claims are just another piece of the huge puzzle that makes up your work day.

The intent of this article is to help streamline your reporting of workers’ compensation claims.

To report your workers’ compensation claims quickly and efficiently, have the following information available when you call your workers’ compensation claims reporting service.

This is a general listing for your quick reference. Additional information may be requested based on state requirements.

1. Policy information: This includes the name of the insured (usually the company name) and the client number assigned to the policy.
2. Client information: This includes the employee’s name, Social Security number, address, home phone number, date of hire, and gross pay per week. For purposes of continuing health insurance and other benefits (like dental insurance, if that’s separate from health insurance) for the injured workers’ family, the workers’ compensation carrier may also require the name of the employee’s spouse and number of dependents.
3. Accident information: Standard information that is necessary to complete the workers’ comp claimusually includes details of the accident such as the exact date and time of the injury as well as the exact location or site code where the injury occurred. A specific description of the injury (e.g., the employee slipped and fell on a wet floor in the warehouse) should always be given. To help guard against claims of negligence by your company, remember to offer information regarding any safeguards or safety equipment that was provided to help prevent injuries (where applicable). For example, if the employee ignored the big, bright yellow sign that said “wet floor,” that could be worth mentioning.
4. Physician information: The workers’ comp carrieris going to need to know the name and address of the employee’s physician as well as the name and address of the hospital the employee was taken to (if applicable). They will need to know where the bills will be coming from and who to send the check to. Some workers’ compensation insurance companies may require direct contact with the physician as allowed by law.

Try not to be too overwhelmed with the reporting process. Create workers’ compensation policies to include a form for employees to fill out most of this information on their own (as they are physically able).

For more information about reducing your rates read: Workers' Compensation Costs