WCA Logo Blue    

WC Claim Predictive Modeling

 

 

 

Executive Update

Predictive Modeling
Better Segmentation = Early Identification
Early Identification = Big Savings/Service Value

Featured Article
modeling
WC Claim Modeling

 

Quick Links
WCA Logo Blue

clh gray
View our profile on LinkedIn

Greetings!

 

 

If you can look into the seeds of time,

And say which grain will grow and which will not;

Speak then to me.

 

William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act I, Sc. 3, L. 58

  

Wouldn't it be nice to...

    • know the outcome of a claim on the day it was reported?
    • provide accurate, deserved, and timely benefits to an injured worker?
    • assign a claim to an adjuster who can effectively and efficiently handle it, thus positively impacting client loss ratios as well as your internal claim leakage?

These are all seeds that can grow to impact claim outcomes, but are they the seeds of weeds or flowers?

 

For the past decade, the casualty market has been using predictive modeling in underwriting as a basis for effective segmentation of risks and for pricing guidance in renewal/non-renewal decisions. 

 

Effective application of a basic underwriting predictive model can positively impact a workers' compensation loss ratio by 5% to 10%.  In the underwriting modeling scenario, the model takes a snapshot of a given risk, typically 90 days before renewal. That snapshot is an annual prediction of a loss ratio given all the appropriate variables at hand.

 

In the area of workers comp claims, predictive modeling is not as easy or straightforward. Though similar in concept, a worker's comp claims model attempts to predict a snapshot of loss ratio on a weekly or even daily basis. This fact alone adds multiple layers of complexity to the development and implementation of a model.  It also makes it more difficult to understand the loss improvement in terms of earlier return to work.  This implies better use of a medical network, better case-management expertise and better decisions by doctors, adjusters, employers, and the injured person. 

 

A workers comp claim model can provide value to all parties and result in better outcomes for thousands of injured employees.  Employers and carriers will see an immediate impact on loss ratios and carriers will have the added benefit of better control of their unallocated loss adjustment expenses, including salaries, overhead, and other related adjustment costs not specifically allocated to the expense incurred for a particular claim. 

Better Segmentation = Early Identification

 

The goal of any modeling effort is to separate the wheat from the chaff.  In the example below, cases generating a score from the algorithmic model are broken into 10 scoring ranges so that pre-determined actions can be taken on the cases.  For instance, cases with lower scores need very little intervention, while cases with higher scores need specific and technical assignments.

 Deciles

An exploded view of the top five percentiles presents a deeper look at specific injury types.  As an example, even though a catastrophic injury is known at the outset, there are many levels within such a claim that can impact the outcome.  Detailed segmentation can be designed for any grouping.

Early Identification = Big Savings/Service Value

 

Predictive models can identify cost drivers and other factors influencing the outcome of claims and produce actionable information users can employ to produce savings on many levels.   

1.        Claims Complexity Model - identifies the primary drivers of a particular claim and affords the greatest reach into understanding a claimant's prospective outcome.

2.        Fraud-Only Model - identifies certain types of fraudulent behavior.  Is excellent for understanding and examining provider payment patterns.

3.        Subrogation-Only Model - identifies additional cases that may be subject to hidden recovery-based information.

4.        Nurse Case Management Model - identifies the right time to assign a nurse case manager. Proper timing can positively impact return-to-work and medical costs.

5.        Medical Reserve Model - identifies escalating drivers of medical costs and helps predict the outstanding costs.

6.       Catastrophic Chronic Pain - identifies which cases will cross the threshold of catastrophic chronic pain, offering more opportunity for management and timely notification.


You are invited to join the Clearinghouse effort and benefit from our Analytics for All approach from Benchmarking to KPIs and KPPs to Claim Scoring.

 
Cordially,

 


Jim Paugh

President
WorkersComp Analytics LLC

(  617-410-6561  

 

Flag Data Warehoused in the USAFlag

 

POSITIVELY IMPACTING CLAIM OUTCOMES