News and Updates
Author: Mike Kowalski
Why You Need a TPA (and a Service Contract!) for Ohio Workers' Comp
If an Ohio employer wants to participate in a BWC sponsored discount program, they need to partner with a TPA (third-party administrator). Failure to do so can cost employers thousands, if not tens of thousands, in additional premiums annually. In addition to getting employers discounts on their workers’ comp premiums, TPAs work for the employer – not for BWC. Your TPA should be advocating on your behalf to manage all aspects of your workers’ comp claims and policy, including (but not limited to): Proper program placement Claims investigations Claims management Workplace safety programs Compliance and deadlines Attorney representation at Industrial Commission hearings If you rely on your TPA to manage workers’ comp claims (and you should be – you’ve paid them to!), you need a service agreement in place to protect you and provide terms for your relationship. Have you read your contract with your TPA? Do you even have one? If your TPA doesn’t have a service contract that spells out what services they are providing, ask them why that is. Often, we see that employers just get an invoice from their TPA with the amount due. In the event of a claim, do you know if you’re paying your TPA for anything more than a discount? Due to TPAs holding the key to BWC sponsored discount programs –many Ohio employers don’t realize that their TPA’s main objective should
