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INSURANCE MATTERS
 
A Newsletter for Members of the CCAP Insurance Programs
Owned by Members, Governed by Members, Service to Members
 
February 2011
Specialty Lines
 
Hello ,

My office got a fresh coat of paint while I was on vacation over the last couple weeks of December. Wendy, our building maintenance manager, told me I didn't have to do anything or pack anything away - she would take care of all of it. You need to imagine all the junk I have collected in my 23 years at CCAP, and 10 years in this particular spot at the CCAP North Office. I wondered if she knew what she was in for!

 

About halfway through my vacation I stopped by the office to check on paperwork and bravely took a peek at my office, and sure enough, almost everything was piled in the center of the office and everything was off the walls. I didn't spy on the progress again until the Sunday before my first day back, when I went to the office for a quick visit, figuring I would have to rearrange and clean up a bit.

 

I smiled when I saw the results. The room was brighter with its new paint, and everything was back in its place, sort of. Wendy later admitted she couldn't remember what picture was hung where. I told her she somehow managed to put every picture up in a spot where it had not been before. Those of you who know me well, know I am fairly particular about how things look and are done. I was genuinely surprised that I liked the new placements, and maybe it was laziness or maybe just a fresh start to the year, but so far they all remain where Wendy put them.

 

We have two people retiring this year on the insurance staff, and in my time here this will make five retirees from people who started here after I did. It makes me realize things not only will go on after I leave here, but they must go on after I leave. (No, I don't have any plans to leave!)

 

Somehow where my stuff is, which picture hangs where, and how the boxes are arranged in the corner don't really rise to the level of importance they used to. Maybe old dogs can learn new tricks!

 

I'm hoping we are focusing on the things that are really important for our members, and I hope if we are not, you will let me know.

 

Make sure you call us when you need help with something,

                              John Sallade

In This Issue
Speciality Lines
Quality Management Event
Fleet Saves With AutoZone
PCoRP Delegates Meeting
Winter Slip and Fall Alert
New Investment Consultant for Insurance Programs
Some Roofs More Prone to Collapse
Law Enforcement and Seat Belts
Effective Safety Committees
CCAP Changing Claims Software
Welcome Susan
Quote of the Month

Quick Links 






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COMCARE Will Host HealthChoices Management Event 

By Christie Ward, Captive Programs Manager

 

On March 22, 2011, COMCARE will host a HealthChoices Behavioral Health Quality Management Event at the Penn Stater in State College, PA.

  

A group of HealthChoices Quality Managers has worked for months to plan this one day event that will bring state and county leaders to Pennsylvania from several states identified as leading the charge in quality management of Medicaid based behavioral health services. Each presenter has been asked to provide detail on their program, including:

 

  • How the program is organized
  • Evidence based practices
  • Measurement tools
  • Innovative programs/initiatives
  • Monitoring
  • Integrated health 

 

State and county leaders from across the country will present:

  

Sela Barker, MSW

Quality Manager

Clark County Regional Support Network, Vancouver, WA

  

Joan Rice, RN

Quality Manager

Multnomah County Mental Health and Addictions/Verity, Portland, OR

  

Bill Rankin

Director of Quality Management

Piedmont Behavioral Health, Concord, NC 

 

Beth Lucas

Director, Quality Improvement

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

 

Dean Ortega

Manager, Quality Management and Compliance Unit

Texas Department of State Health Services

 

 

COMCARE is pleased to offer this event free to member counties and lunch will be provided. Visit the COMCARE website, ccapcomcare.org, to register. Pre-registration is required.

 

If you have questions contact Christie Ward, Captive Programs Manager or Susan Horne, Administrative Assistant at (800) 895-9039.

 


Cobb County Fleet Saves Big with the AutoZone Strategic Partners Program 
 

Cobb County, GA is facing the same challenges that all local governments are struggling with right now.  How do we continue to provide the same - or greater - levels of service with fewer dollars?  In planning their 2009 budget, county leaders asked each department to reduce expenditures a minimum of 10 percent. 

 

To meet this goal, the Purchasing Department, which includes both purchasing and fleet management divisions, looked to U.S. Communities and their auto parts and accessories contract with AutoZone. 

 

AutoZone recently launched a Strategic Partners program as part of their government offering through U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance.  The goal of the program is to partner with local governments in order to analyze common automotive parts purchased by governments nationwide and leverage that total volume to obtain better pricing.  Additionally, local governments can save money by streamlining their purchasing operations and reduce the number of vendors they use to support their daily fleet maintenance activities.

 

As a result of implementing the Strategic Partners program, Cobb County expects to save over 30 percent on its automotive parts budget this year. 

 

"AutoZone came onsite and provided the county with a very detailed review of all our automotive parts and purchasing processes," said Rick Brun, Purchasing Director for Cobb County. "Not only is the county saving money by switching to AutoZone brands and products, we are realizing administrative savings by reducing the number of vendors we use to manage our fleet operations.  At the same time our fleet department has been very impressed with the excellent service provided daily by AutoZone."

 

Because the AutoZone contract was competitively solicited and awarded by Charlotte-Mecklenberg Purchasing Services in North Carolina through the U.S. Communities program, any state and local government agency in the country can order what they need from the contract and never have to go out to bid. This speeds up the process to complete a cost savings review and cuts down on the administrative costs normally associated with the bid process.


 
U.S. Communities is a nonprofit instrumentality of government founded in 1999 and is comprised of nearly 36,000 participating agencies nationwide.  It grows by over 400 agencies each month. In 2008, participating agencies purchased over $1.4 billion of products and services through contracts offered by U.S. Communities.

 

"The goal of AutoZone is to help our customers exceed their targeted purchasing goals and provide the AutoZone brand of WOW! Customer Service," explained Larry Roesel, senior vice president of AutoZone commercial.  "The U.S. Communities contract allows government agencies to realize their savings goals faster by reducing the amount of time it takes to adopt our Strategic Partners program through the U.S. Communities contract."

 

As part of a nationwide awareness campaign, AutoZone is launching the "AutoZone; Great Brands, Great Products" initiative as a compliment to their Strategic Partners program and the U.S. Communities contract in 2009.  The goal of the initiative is to share many of the cost saving experiences being realized by local governments like Cobb County with all of the local government agencies across the country.  In these challenging economic times, it is rewarding to know that local governments are working hard to save money and maintain community services at the highest level possible.

 

The AutoZone contract is offered through the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance ("U.S. Communities").  To register, go to www.uscommunities.org and click on "register with US."  The U.S. Communities program is provided without charge to public agencies and nonprofit organization.

 



PCoRP Delegates Meeting: Board Elected,

Award Winners Announced 

By John Sallade, Managing Director, Insurance Programs 

 

More than 100 PCoRP members and staff, including representatives from 28 of the 44 PCoRP members, attended the 2010 PCoRP Delegates Dinner November 21 during the CCAP Fall Conference at the Hotel Hershey. After dinner the Delegates heard presentations on the finances and operations of the property and liability insurance pool, and elected board members for 2011.

 

Elected to two year terms on the board were:

Ken Ammann, Mercer County Commissioner, 4th & 5th Class Director

June Sorg, Elk County Commissioner, 6th Class Director

Norm Wimer, Forest County Coroner, 7th & 8th Class Director

Ellie Ahner, Carbon County Assistant Chief Clerk, At Large Director

Dee Robinson, Union County Chief Clerk, At Large Director

Mark Smith, Bradford County Commissioner, At Large Director

 

Mark Smith is new to the board, the others elected were incumbents. Mark replaces John Sullivan, who decided to end his service on the board after three years. Our thanks to John for his active and thoughtful work as a board member.

 

PCoRP Chairman and Schuylkill County Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier recognized John Yaninek of Thomas, Thomas and Hafer with PCoRP's Special Recognition Award. John was PCoRP's Corporate Counsel during his years at Mette Evans & Woodside, and with his move to a new law firm has now transitioned to a defense counsel for PCoRP. John was thanked for his service as advisor to the PCoRP Board and staff.

 

Bruce Mitchell, CCAP's Loss Control Programs Manager, also received a PCoRP Special Recognition Award for his more than sixteen years of service to CCAP. Bruce is retiring in June.

 

The 2010 PCoRP Awards were announced and distributed at the meeting. Congratulations to the following winners!

 

Loss Control Award:  Franklin County

Brady Koch Award:  Erick Coolidge, Tioga County Commissioner

Sherm Doebler Award:  Richard Spargo, Huntingdon-Bedford-Fulton AAA

Ron Shearer Award:  June Sorg, Elk County Commissioner

Claims Reporting Award:  David Kerr, Pike County Local Insurance Producer

Loss Prevention Award:  Wayne County

Loss Prevention Award:  Columbia County

Willis Pooling Loss Experience Award:  Tioga County
 


Winter Slip and Fall Alert
By Gary Nicholson, CHSP, Senior Control Specialist 

It was quite alarming what I discovered after reviewing the PComp Weekly New Claims Report for the first week in January. I quickly realized that out of the 29 accidents reported for the first week of the new year, 14 were due to slips and falls and 11 of the slips and falls occurred outdoors. Statistically 48% of the accidents reported for the first week of 2011 were slips and falls, and 76% of the slips and falls occurred outdoors and were due to winter weather conditions. 

We all know that winter weather often brings snow and ice, which can coat sidewalks, pathways and parking lots, making them very slick and treacherous. However, it is impossible to avoid walking outside, so instead certain cautions should be taken to prevent a winter slip and fall accident. Although slips and falls usually are not fatal they can cause broken bones and back injuries.

Tips to Avoid Slips and Falls

 

While you cannot prevent snow or ice from falling or freezing on sidewalks, pathways and parking lots there are things that you can do to help give yourself a better chance of making your walk to and from unscathed.

 

Tips to avoid winter slips and falls include:

 

  • Slow down and give yourself extra time to travel. If possible wait until sidewalks, pathways are cleared, and parking lots have been plowed and sanded.
  • If you think you are approaching a particularly slick area of snow or ice, don't be afraid to explore the area with your toe to see how slippery it is before you put your full weight on the area, and this is particularly important when getting out of a vehicle.
  • Take small careful steps instead of large ones. When getting out of a vehicle, step, don't jump. When possible, use handrails, handles or anything that will help you keep your balance. Never run.
  • Wear the proper footwear. Although it may not be glamorous to wear a pair of boots, it will give you traction, not to mention keep your feet warm. If you want to wear heels or other kinds of shoes, simply carry an extra pair with you to change in to.
  • Do not carry large loads while walking on snow or ice because you are asking for trouble. If you do carry a load on an icy walk and feel yourself falling, toss your load so that you can break your fall with your arms.
  • Do not put your hands in your pockets when navigating wintry stretches. If you slip, you will need your arms to restore balance. If you fall, your arms will help you to break your fall and land safely.
  • Be cautious at building entrances and exits. These areas pose slip and fall hazards from melted snow, ice and slush. Salt, ice melt and anti-skid material also can accumulate at these points.
  • Report ice and snow hazards to your supervisor immediately so maintenance personnel are alerted of the hazard. 

 

The bottom line is to STOP slips and falls. Remember that prevention is the best way to stop slips and falls during the winter in snow and icy conditions.

 

For more information email Gary Nicholson, Senior Loss Control Specialist or call             (800) 895-9039.

 

New Investment Consultant Chosen for Insurance Programs

By John Sallade, Managing Director, Insurance Programs

 

The CCAP Joint Investment Committee has selected Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, Inc. as Investment Advisor for CCAP's insurance programs. This selection is the first of two decisions which will be the culmination of a comprehensive review of the investment process and structure used for the assets of COMCARE PRO, PELICAN, PComp, PCoRP and the UC Trust. The Joint Investment Committee is composed of two representatives from the board of each of these five insurance programs, and is responsible for decisions regarding the investment of approximately $80 million in program assets.

 

The committee decided to proceed with an investment RFP process in 2010, noting it had been about 10 years since the last review. The committee also decided that the size of assets involved now made a new structure possible. As a result of the RFP process, which included reviewing 18 responses and interviewing six finalists, the committee has decided to go to a structure with an Investment Advisor and a separate Investment Custodian. The Investment Advisor is paid a flat fee, and chooses a variety of investment managers and monitors their performance. As Investment Advisor, Cornerstone will work directly with the Joint Investment Committee. In 2011, Cornerstone will also meet with each of the insurance program's boards of directors, and review each program's investment philosophy and guidelines and update as necessary.

 

In the next month the Joint Investment Committee will also be selecting a custodian for the assets of the programs.

 

Cornerstone is based in Bethlehem, PA and is a privately owned firm. They specialize in investment consulting to middle market institutional clients.


Some Roofs More Prone to Collapse

By Gary Nicholson, CHSP, Senior Loss Control Specialist

 

It was recently reported in a newspaper that county officials wanted to know how a massive, fabric-covered barn that was supposed to hold up under the harshest northwestern Pennsylvania weather could collapse under the weight of some recent snow. The commissioners are trying to learn more about the collapse of a barn located on the county fairgrounds.

 

Winter is a time of stress for any roof. Regardless of location, some roofs are much more prone to collapse than others. Metal buildings with standing seam roof systems, especially those constructed before 2000, can be particularly problematic.

 

The issue with structural standing seam roof systems arises out of the metal panel attached to the purlins with clips. The clips were designed to allow metal roofs to expand and contract freely up and down the slope without penetrating the roof surface, minimizing the potential for leaks. However, the clips did not provide sufficient lateral (side-to-side) and torsional (rotational) restraint to prevent the purlins from "rolling over."

 

In the mid-1990s, due to a number of structural standing seam roof failures, an investigation funded by the Metal Building Manufacturers Association and the American Iron and Steel Institute found that standard design practices assumed the clips provided full restraint of the roof purlins and did not account for the potential of purlins rolling over under heavy loads, such as snow drift or wind uplift.

 

As a result of the research, design practices since the late 1990s have been modified. Building designers were required to do one of the following: 1) assume the clips did not provide any restraint to the purlins and design additional, supplementary bracing; or 2) apply a strength reduction factor "R" to the purlin design. Depending upon the metal panel profile and clip configuration, the range of values for "R" may vary from 0.5 to 0.9. Older designs not incorporating either a reduction factor or supplementary bracing may have little to no factor of safety and may fail at or near snow and wind design loads.

 

County officials may not be aware of the type or age of their roofs. In addition, besides structural standing seam systems, other roofs may also be at risk. CCAP Insurance Programs' loss control services want to advise counties to be especially alert if:

 

  1. Their metal-roofed buildings were constructed before 2000.
  2. The roofs have relatively long spans (greater than 50 feet, eave to peak).
  3. The area is subject to ice and snow accumulation (including drifting from higher-elevation portions of roofing) or high winds.

 

Loss control services suggest an important step that counties can take to address these issues is to have a structural engineer inspect all metal roofs prior to winter storms. An engineer can make sure the roof design is adequate, as well as assess any existing deficiencies that should be repaired.

 

In addition, loss control services recommend that counties should have a pre-emergency plan to address winter weather. This would include a strategy for monitoring snow depth on roofs and removing any buildup that is unsafe. To avoid injuries and potential liability from sending untrained employees up on the roof, counties may wish to consider using a contractor that specializes in snow removal.

Further, loss control services urges counties to develop a "Winter Checklist" to be prepared for winter snows and heavy wind by checking roofs ahead of time. Among the things to include in the checklist are the following:

 

  • Check varying roof heights that allow drifting snow to pile up on lower roofs.
  • Clear blocked roof drains, scuppers or gutters that may allow water to pond and ice to build up.
  • Repair existing roof damage in advance of bad weather.
  • Implement a procedure for checking snow depth on roofs.

 

Claims for damage caused by roof collapse can be monetarily devastating. However, the disruption to work and headaches from dealing with the aftermath of a collapse make almost any level of loss worth avoiding. By staying on top of roof conditions, counties can be prepared for whatever winter brings.

 

For more information email Gary Nicholson, Senior Loss Control Specialist or call (800) 895-9039.

 

 

Many in Law Enforcement Not Wearing Seat Belts

Information for this article came from an article by Kevin Johnson, USA Today 


At least 42 percent of law enforcement officers killed in vehicle crashes over the past three decades were not wearing seat belts or other safety restraints, according to a federal review. The study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which analyzed 733 crashes from 1980 through 2008, comes less than a week after a separate report found that fatal traffic incidents in 2010 were the leading cause of officer deaths for the thirteenth straight year.

 

"This points to a real problem," says Craig Floyd, chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which closely tracks officer deaths.

 

Some officers resist wearing seat belts because the restraints slow their movement in and out of the cars, Floyd says. Others complain that the straps get tangled in utility and gun belts.

 

The memorial fund reported a 37 percent overall increase in line of duty deaths in 2010, reversing two consecutive years of decline. Included in that number, traffic-related fatalities jumped from 51 in 2009 to 73 in 2010.

 

Of the officers killed in vehicle crashes, 28 percent used some kind of restraint in the 1980s, according to the NHTSA report. Usage increased to 56 percent in the 1990s. But the report found that seat belt or other restraint use has recently declined to about 50 percent.

 

According to the NHTSA report, fatal vehicle accidents involving officers have been steadily rising, from 29 percent of the total fatalities in the 1980s to 50 percent or more in recent years.

 

In addition to the 42 percent who were not wearing restraints during the course of the review, the study found that seat-belt use could not be determined in nearly 13 percent of the fatalities, suggesting that non-compliance could be higher.

 

In Las Vegas, the loss of three officers in vehicle crashes in 2009 - all not wearing seat belts at the times of the crashes - launched an internal campaign to compel officers to comply with the law. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Jacinto Rivera says the officer deaths "shook the foundation of this agency."

 

Rivera says the accidents required a "cultural change" within the department, prompting Sheriff Doug Gillespie to initiate a number of programs:

 

Police crash survivors were recruited to film public service messages.

 

A training panel was formed to study how to improve driving safety. Rivera says the panel looked at how transportation businesses, including UPS, trained personnel.

 

Officers are encouraged to report on colleagues who don't comply. Punishments range from citations to suspension.

 


Pelican Ad

The Secret to Effective Safety Committees

The Four R's 

By Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Specialist 

 

A safety committee can be an effective element of a county's comprehensive safety and health program. Safety committees can enhance not only the well-being of workers but also the overall safety culture in an organization. As with any team addressing important workplace issues, common goals, effective interactions, passion for the cause and common vision among the membership is more vital to success than structure and procedures.

 

But like anything else, a committee works only when it's done right. In this article, I will explain the four R's of committee success.

 

THE FIRST R: REPRESENTATION/RIGHTSIZING

 

How many members should a committee have? I get asked this all the time. My answer: Enough members to make every part of the county/organization feel represented but not so many as to encumber the committee's work. Striking the right balance between representativeness and effectiveness can be tricky.

 

There should be somebody on the committee to represent each of the county's departments or natural divisions. But if there are too many divisions, it might be necessary to consolidate things for committee purposes. For example, it would be unwise to appoint one representative from each building/facility if your county has over 100 buildings.

 

BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER

 

Having worked with committees of all sizes, I have noticed that the most effective committees are small in number, no matter how many employees they represent. Committees with between five and eight members seem to accomplish the most. Committees of a dozen or more, on the other hand, tend to have a hard time making decisions. As a result, they don't get much done.

 

My advice for counties that want more help: Instead of adding members, set up sub-committees for specific tasks or at the most add temporary members as you need them.

 

WHO SHOULD BE ON THE COMMITTEE

 

Deciding who should be on the committee is also tricky. The simplest thing is to ask for volunteers. But be careful. I've found that the employees who lobby most aggressively to be on a committee often have an agenda that isn't representative of the other employees. Electing such members often leads to turf battles and in-fighting that limits the committee's overall effectiveness.

 

On the other hand, I have also found that it's a mistake to force employees to serve on a committee if they don't want to. Employees who get "conscripted" into committee duty don't perform well and may even undermine the committee's work.

 

If your employees belong to a union, selection of committee members may be dictated by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. In addition, the federal National Labor Relations Board has ruled it unfair for companies to unilaterally appoint safety committee members. Bottom Line: The county and union need to work together to select an appropriate process and model for choosing members.


THE SECOND R: RESPONSIBILITY

 

Once you decide on the size of the committee and who can serve on it, you can focus on the second R: Responsibility of committee members.

 

DEFINING THE COMMITTEE'S ROLE

 

You need to spell out specifically what you expect committees to do. New committees shouldn't try to do much too fast. They should start out with limited roles like investigating accidents and near misses and responding to employee complaints.

Although these are reactive functions, they give a committee a chance to learn the ropes and develop the experience necessary to take on more proactive roles like safety training, inspection and hazard recognition.

 

DEFINING COMMITTEE MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

 

You also need to let committee members know what their responsibilities are. From working with committees, I have found that it helps to have company and labor representatives work together to develop job descriptions for committee members. Advice: If you're just starting a committee, keep the job description simple and straightforward. You can always modify and expand it later in light of experience.

 

You also need to train committee members so they can perform their responsibilities. This may involve something simple like safety talks or something more involved like comprehensive workshops. But here's an important caveat: I have never seen a committee capable of performing all newly-learned functions well. You're better off limiting training only for duties to which the committee is committed. This will give committee members a chance to find their legs, that is, apply their new skills and improve their performance through practice and repetition. As members get better and more comfortable in their role, you can train them to take on more difficult functions and assignments.

 

THE THIRD R: ROTATING MEMBERSHIP

 

Now, let's discuss the third R: Rotation of committee members.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF ROTATION

 

Rotation means replacing committee members on a regular basis. Giving other employees a chance to serve on a committee is important because it maximizes participation in committee functions, The greater the number of participants, the higher the level of awareness and responsibility throughout the organization.

 

Rotation is very important. In my experience working with committees, I have found that the counties and companies that rotate committee membership are the ones that realize the greatest improvement in safety performance.

 

STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE

 

On the other hand, while rotating membership is beneficial, you don't want to overdo the amount of turnover. There needs to be some experienced and trained members on the committee at all times. In other words, there needs to be a balance between fresh blood and veteran leadership.

 

An effective approach is to have the most senior member of the committee rotate off every six months. Example: Under this system a committee of seven members would have the following mix of seniority at the start of each membership cycle:

 

Member 1: 0 months

Member 2: 6 months

Member 3: 12 months

Member 4: 18 months

Member 5: 24 months

Member 6: 30 months

Member 7: 36 months

 

This system ensures a perpetual mix of experience and fresh ideas.

 

THE FOURTH R: RESULTS

 

The fourth and final R of committee success: Results.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF RESULTS

 

Committees don't get a free pass because they serve a noble cause. They're just like any other part of an organization: They need to produce results to justify their existence. They need successes to back up their work.

 

To be successful, committees must ensure that the recommendations they make are responsible. In other words, recommendations should be limited to the safety realm, well thought out and prioritized. They need to be backed by solid business justification and fit the county's business model and resource constraints. Committee members should be prepared to work with the safety and risk management department. Recommendations should consider business values like productivity, quality and cost-containment, public safety as well as pure safety. Conversely, outlandish recommendations that don't fit county business reality won't get taken seriously and harm the committee's credibility.

 

By the same token, county management and commissioners need to understand the need to take committee recommendations seriously. Continually ignoring recommendations will undermine the committee and render it ineffective.

 

USING COMMITTEE MINUTES TO FOSTER SUPPORT

 

Both county management and the committee should make an effort to promote awareness of its efforts and successes throughout the organization. Displaying the minutes of committee meetings on bulletin boards throughout the facility/county is an effective way to do this.

 

The minutes are important because they show what the committee has achieved and what it's working on. This reassures people that the committee is active and enables them to track initiatives from start to finish. When county management supports committee initiatives, this gets reflected in the minutes. So posting the minutes provides evidence of management's commitment to health and safety.

  

SUMMARY

 

In summary, safety and health committees are an integral component of a county's safety and health program.

 

If you need a review of your existing safety committee's activities; or if you think it's time to "jump-start" your safety committee, please give us a call or send an email to our attention. CCAP's Loss Control TEAM looks forward to assisting our members and to make our mutual safety efforts a "winning hand." Please call 800-895-9039 or by email as follows:

 

Gary Nicholson, Senior Loss Control Specialist, [email protected]

Greg Cunningham, Loss Control Specialist, [email protected]

Bruce Mitchell, Loss Control Services Manager, [email protected]

Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Specialist, telephone: (412) 276-2722,  [email protected]

 

 

CCAP Changing Claims Software

By John Sallade, Managing Director, Insurance Programs

 

Due to some ongoing frustration with the service and availability of upgrades from our current claims software provider (STARS), CCAP staff decided to conduct an RFP process and see what other options were available. An internal committee, headed by Claims Manager Dave Harman, prepared an RFP and distributed it at the annual PRIMA conference exhibit in June 2010. We also were able to obtain a list of all the insurance pool members of AGRiP (the Association of Governmental Risk Pools) which showed the claims software they used, and we sent the RFP to the companies on that list. We received 9 proposals, and interviewed 5 firms.


We have decided to change to software from RiskMaster. We like the flexibility of the software, and are currently finalizing contracts and planning design meetings and training. Our goal is to have the software up and running around the beginning of this July. We will be providing members of COBALT, COMCARE PRO, PELICAN, PComp and PCoRP with updates on the transition, as there will be a new process to report claims on line. We also expect there to be a period, hopefully just 3 days, when the claims system will be shut down while the conversion is made.

 

RiskMaster is a product of CSC, a Virginia based technology company. RiskMaster is currently used by several county association pools, including those in Ohio, Nebraska and Montana, and their staff has reported good success with the software.


We will keep you posted on our progress!

 
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Welcome Susan
 

We are pleased to welcome Susan Horne, Administrative Assistant to the Captive Programs Unit. Members of PELICAN, COMCARE, COMCARE PRO and PACAH Bonds will work closely with Susan and many have already begun to hear from her.

 

Susan came to us from Hewlett Packard, where she worked on the PROMISe Account (DPW Medicaid claims). Prior to that, she worked for a total of 21 years at Book of the Month Club where she held several positions in the accounting, book production and customer service departments. She has raised two sons and is a native of Mechanicsburg, PA.

 

Susan works in our North office in Harrisburg and can be reached at [email protected] and (717) 526-1010, x 3363.


diff_one
Quote of the Month
 
 "Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not."
 
- Vaclav Havel


CCAP Insurance Programs
PO Box 60769, Harrisburg, PA 17106-0769
Phone (800) 895-9039 - FAX (717) 526-1020
Claims Fax (888) 692-2368
Click here to go the Insurance Section of the CCAP Website.

email: [email protected]

Insurance Matters is published monthly by CCAP Insurance Programs for the use of members of CCAP's UC Trust, PCoRP, PComp, PIMCC, COMCARE, COMCARE PRO, BEST Flex, PELICAN and other insurance programs, and insurance producers of these members.

Advice contained in this publication is not legal advice and members are encouraged to seek the opinion of their solicitor.

The information provided in this publication is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with competent legal, financial, or other appropriate professionals. Statements of facts and opinions expressed in this publication, by authors other than Association staff and officers, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an opinion or philosophy of the officers, members and staff of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). No endorsement of advertised products or services is implied by CCAP unless those products or services are expressly endorsed, or are owned or managed by the Association programs, or our affiliates. This publication may not be reproduced, modified, distributed, or displayed in part or in whole, by any means, without advance written permission of CCAP. Please direct your requests to John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs, [email protected].

Note: As part of its copyright agreement the CCAP grants the author the right to place the final version of his/her manuscript on the author's homepage, subject to CCAP's standards, or in a public digital repository, provided there is a link to the CCAP website.

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