Vendor leakage involves payments to various outside vendors used in investigation and claims handling such as nurse case management, surveillance, independent medical evaluation (IME) companies, and vocational assessments.
The adjuster brings in a vocational expert when a claimant is unable to perform the job done at the time the injury occurred. A vocational counselor combs the job market in an attempt to find the injured worker potential work positions based on the person's experience and medical restrictions. The reputation of the vocational counselor is very important. Litigation cases use a vocational expert to show that the worker's injury and subsequent permanent medical restrictions incurred do not prevent any future employment. However, this argument must be made correctly. Outside factors taken into account include geographical location, the current job market, the claimant's transferable skills, and the overall chance the injured worker will have gainful, long-term, satisfying employment within these restrictions. A judge will not be satisfied by an attempt to take a man whose whole job history is as a welder and attempting to turn him into a greeter at a box store. Before thinking of a vocational assessment the adjuster first goes to the employer to (1) create a job within the restrictions and pay range, or (2) attempt to modify the worker's position to accommodate the medical restriction(s). If either of these options are workable than a vocational expert is not needed and the vendor's fees are saved. | 
