NCCI report offers insurer perspectives on successful return-to-work programs
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The National Council on Compensation Insurance published a report Monday detailing insurer perspectives on components of successful return-to-work programs.
NCCI interviewed representatives from multiple insurance companies that write workers compensation business and have RTW program expertise. The insurers interviewed identified several common components as key to a successful transitional RTW program, with management commitment by the employer being the most important component, the report states.
The report illustrated the importance of management commitment being ingrained in the employer’s culture, and that the owner, management and employees must all be aware of this commitment to bring injured employees back to a position tailored to their physical restrictions.
This includes finding tasks and positions that help keep the employee involved, aid in rehabilitation, prevent deconditioning, and add value for both the employer and employee, the report states.
Other key components identified in the report were communication and setting clear expectations running parallel with management commitment, both before and after an injury occurs.
One insurer stated that a strong program “requires collaboration between all the parties — the injured employee, the medical provider giving treatment, as well as the insurer and the employer. The collaboration is important because it demonstrates each party’s commitment to an injured employee’s health, and that a safe return, as soon as it’s medically appropriate, is important to them.”
The report also promoted a common RTW tool in creating and maintaining an inventory of light-duty or transitional tasks. All insurers interviewed discussed their efforts in helping employers identify these tasks and develop a job description for the medical provider to review, the report states.
According to NCCI, by having these tasks identified before the injury occurs, the RTW process can be made more efficient.
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