Company Expands Workers’ Compensation and TPA Services

Claims Associates is an independent claims adjusting company and third-party administrator (TPA) that provides services to insurance clients and self-insured public organizations and pools.

Since its inception in 1996, Claims Associates has relied on CSC’s software for managing risk and claims, and RISKMASTER® Accelerator has been a key element of the company’s growth plan as it established systems and processes to meet clients’ needs.

“We chose RISKMASTER Accelerator because it was very user friendly, and the training that was offered was very service-based and a good fit for a small business just starting up,” said Jennifer Andrisen Selzler, claims manager at Claims Associates. “As RISKMASTER Accelerator has evolved, we have grown and evolved with it.”

The software’s Web-based accessibility allows adjusters to work from home, at a claimant’s site or on the road and to upload and access claims information. Since it keeps digital records of all notes, photographs, attachments and form letters in one spot, RISKMASTER Accelerator reduces the need to manually prepare paper files.

Andrisen Selzler also praised the addition of the Business Analytics tool, which allows interactive Web access to loss reports and claims data.

“Some of our TPA clients rely on us for all of their data and reporting needs, and we’re able to meet their requests by producing a variety of tailored reports — loss runs, quarterlies, year-end financial reports, etc. — through Business Analytics.”

Business Analytics also benefits internal operations. Claims Associates’ supervisors and managers run reports to capture claim counts and manage workloads and new assignments.

Enhanced Medical Bill Review

To better support worker’s comp customers, Claims Associates chose StrataCare, a CSC partner and a leading provider of medical bill review software. StrataCare software integrates with RISKMASTER Accelerator, enabling Claims Associates to import payment and claims files with attachments of images into the claims system and eliminate manual processing.

“We want to free our staff from manual data entry so they can focus on better managing the medical bill review process,” Andrisen Selzler said.

Complying with New Regulations

CSC also helped Claims Associates comply with Medicaid Medicare SCHIP Extension Act (MMSEA) requirements for claims reporting. The MMSEA tool in RISKMASTER Accelerator helps the company meet the new reporting requirements on its own.

“This reporting tool not only makes our employees’ jobs much easier, it allows us to better serve our customers by filing the required reports on their behalf,” said Andrisen Selzler. “Since so few of our competitors provide this service, we gain a competitive advantage.”

Supporting Growth with Efficient Operations

Since the company was formed, Claims Associates has grown from 5 claims employees to 30 today. Andrisen Selzler said that mastering the software’s easy-to-use functionality has enabled Claims Associates’ staff to do more with less.

“Whether they’re adjusters, managers or administrative personnel, RISKMASTER Accelerator has helped them be more efficient in their jobs and ultimately deliver higher customer satisfaction,” she said. “That is why we continue to grow.”

Another key benefit of the relationship is participation in CSC’s large, active community of organizations using RISKMASTER Accelerator.

“We are still a relatively small company and we still depend on CSC and the community to guide us through new technology advancements and capabilities as they evolve,” Andrisen Selzler said. “CSC and the users group have helped us to maximize the opportunities to use RISKMASTER Accelerator’s rich functionality to continually improve our business.”