2014 Workers' Compensation Benchmarking Survey Launches to Continue Exploration of Claims Operational Challenges

CHICAGO, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2014 Workers' Compensation Benchmarking Study survey is underway, with a continued mission of researching the complex forces that impact claims management in workers' compensation today – forces that challenge both operational effectiveness and industry growth. Building upon the robust 2013 Study, efforts in 2014 focus on: developing multi-year trend data, delivering further insights around the critical challenges revealed last year and identifying any potential shifts in operational focus. Some new themes will also be investigated, including the impact of various strategies on claims performance metrics and how organizations are grappling with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Working again as a collaborative initiative amongst workers' compensation executives, the Study's aim is to provide a peer benchmarking tool that claims organizations can use to gauge their own operational priorities, hurdles and strategies in addressing the following industry-wide challenges:

• Prioritizing Core Competencies
• Measuring Best Practices
• Incentivizing Operational Excellence
• Training & Retaining Staff
• Managing Technology & Data
• Evaluating Medical Management Performance
• Assessing the Impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

The confidential survey will continue throughout June, and is open to management and executive-level leaders who oversee workers' compensation claims operations for organizations such as insurance carriers, employers, third party administrators, government entities, and risk pools. Claims leaders who TAKE THE SURVEY will receive a copy of the Study Report.

The Study's Publisher, Rising Medical Solutions, recognized a gap in available research about how claims organizations deal with daily operational challenges. "When we first conceived of the Study, others validated the research shortage and expressed interest in creating a dialogue around the pressing issues confronting claims operations," says Rising's CEO Jason Beans. "The 2014 Study provides a new opportunity, not only to dig deeper into previous findings, but also to increase the value of the data as evolving trends are tracked over time."

The Study is again being guided by independent Principal Researcher Denise Algire, as well as a Study Advisory Council comprised of executive leadership from across the industry, including:

• Gale Vogler, Director, Managed Care,  Acuity Insurance
• Raymond Jacobsen, Managing Director, AON Benfield
• Leann Farlander, Cost Containment Director, Athens Administrators
• Fred Boothe, Vice President of Claims Services, BrickStreet Insurance
• Rich Cangiolosi, Vice President, Western Region, CCMSI
• Cathy Vines, Director, Healthcare Cost Containment Strategy, CopperPoint Mutual Insurance
• Kelly Kuri, Senior Director, Workers' Compensation, Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance
• James Masingill, Vice President, Claim Operations, Markel FirstComp Insurance
• Mark Walls, Senior Vice President, Workers' Compensation Market Research Leader, Marsh USA
• Barbara Spain, Senior Counsel, Workforce Management Practice Group, McDonald's Corporation
• Tom McCauley, Owner & Consultant, Networks by Design
• Laura Crowe, Risk Management Director, Presbyterian Healthcare Services
• John Smolk,  Principal Manager, Workers' Compensation, Southern California Edison
• Tim Gallagher, Director, Managed Care Services, Tower Group Companies
• Joe McLaughlin, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, TRISTAR Insurance Group
• Kyle Cato, Regional Claims Manager, Whole Foods Market
• Tim Mondon, Senior Vice President, Bill Review, Zenith Insurance
• Peter McCarron, Senior Vice President, Workers' Compensation Claims, Zurich North America

"The Advisory Council adds the critical expertise needed to deliver insightful and meaningful data to claims executives," says Algire. "With their leadership, the 2013 Study gained widespread interest and support, and we're eager to further engage the industry in giving dimension and attention to the most significant operational challenges facing claims organizations today."

Claims leaders who want to participate in the Workers' Compensation Benchmarking Study can take the survey BY CLICKING HERE. The Study Report will be published in the Fall 2014.

About the Workers' Compensation Benchmarking Study
The Workers' Compensation Benchmarking Study, conceived and published by Rising Medical Solutions, is an operational assessment tool for claims organizations to evaluate priorities, hurdles and strategies amongst their peers. The Study provides actionable data from confidential survey results submitted by workers' compensation leaders nationwide. The ongoing Study program is a collaboration of industry executives representing diverse organizational perspectives. To request a copy of the 2013 Study Report, click here.

Media Contact
Rachel Fikes, VP & Study Program Director: [email protected] / 312.224.5893

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SOURCE Rising Medical Solutions