Workers’ compensation insurance is crucial for any business. Whether you own your own business or you’re the manager of an HR department, you know how important it is to have your workers covered. In addition to protecting your employees if they get injured on the job, workers’ comp also protects you and your company financially. Without coverage, you could be expected to pay out of pocket if one of your employees gets hurt at work.
Though workers’ comp is vital, the process of filing a claim can be somewhat overwhelming. A lot goes into properly filing a claim—from correctly classifying workers and gathering required documentation to ensuring there are no errors in calculations.
Integrating technology into the process can help make workers’ compensation claims more streamlined. When you partner with a PEO (professional employer organization) they can utilize technology to improve claims management. Let’s take a look at the impact of technology on claims processing and key technologies for improving claims efficiency.
The Impact of Technology on Claims Processing
Accurately filing workers’ compensation claims is essential for both your employees and your company. When errors occur, the entire process can be delayed—costing you both time and money. For employees who’ve been injured, receiving the full reimbursement amount right away is imperative when it comes to seeking medical care. Without that reimbursement money from the insurance company, they may be forced to wait to receive the care they need.
As an employer, a workers’ compensation claim mistake will mean spending time searching for the error and adjusting the numbers accordingly. When your team already has their hands full, backtracking can be incredibly costly to your business.
When it comes to workers’ compensation, automation can play a major role in the efficiency of the process. PEOs utilize software that can help streamline the process and ensure that claims are filed accurately and employees are reimbursed as soon as possible.
Key Technologies for Improving Claims Efficiency
PEO software offers many features that can help improve workers’ compensation claims efficiency. Partnering with a PEO means employers and their employees will have access to a mobile app with their own personal portal. This user-friendly hub allows workers not only to clock in and out and view their pay stubs, but also to file their own workers’ comp claims and access telehealth tools. Being able to access everything themselves empowers employees to be proactive with their claims process and get the support they need right away.
A mobile app with a user portal also means necessary documentation can be uploaded and accessed at any time. If any required paperwork is missing, users will be able to see what’s still needed in order to get the ball rolling. This software also allows users to see the status of their claim in real time. This means that employees won’t need to constantly call to check their claim status—they can simply log in to their portal for updates.
Telehealth is another emerging technology that can be used to help improve claims efficiency. For injured employees, after the initial visits to receive immediate medical care it’s important that they continue to get ongoing support. Digital communication makes follow-up visits quick and easy to schedule as well as more accessible for someone who may have a hard time getting out of the house after an injury. These accessible follow-up visits also help ensure your employees stay on track toward a full recovery. The live chat feature may also be available for employees who have a quick question about their recovery and may not need a full appointment.
By utilizing mobile apps, telehealth providers can create rehabilitation plans for injured employees, helping make the return-to-work process as smooth as possible.
The Future of Workers’ Comp Claims with Technology
Integrating technology into the way you file your workers’ compensation claims can drastically improve the entire process. Streamlining your claims with PEO software to easily upload necessary documents and check the status of a claim—all while automating the process—is essential for efficiency. If you’re ready to improve your workers’ compensation claims process by partnering with a PEO, reach out to the experienced OCMI workers’ comp team to get the support you need.
