Broadspire Launches First Alternative Dispute Resolution Process Offered By A National TPA

Atlanta, GA (CompNewsNetwork) - Broadspire, a Crawford Company and leading third party administrator (TPA) and medical management services provider, has launched a new Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process for unions, the first such program offered by a national TPA to the $10.6 billion unionized workers compensation market.

“In the current economic climate, all of us should get excited about a solution where everybody wins,” said Broadspire Senior Vice President Kerwin Williams. “With ADR, employers benefit directly from tremendous cost savings, injured employees receive elevated assistance and heightened care delivery, while unions reap the rewards associated with improved relationships with management.”

Passed in 1993, California Senate Bill 983 enabled employers and unions in the construction and other closely related industries to design and implement alternatives to statutory workers compensation. Roughly 10 years after the passage of SB 983, Senate Bill 228 expanded the legislation to cover all California unionized industries. Thirty-three other states have followed California's lead and now have specific or enabling ADR language.

Broadspire, working in conjunction with Workers Compensation Solutions LLC (WCS), a leading ADR Consulting firm, leverages key legislation and employs nurse advocates to assist an injured worker through a structured claims management process. This systematic methodology has been proven to help expedite medical care, reduce the amount of time an injured employee is off work and drastically diminish formal litigation. “Through partnering with WCS, Broadspire is able to bring to market a program with an exceptional track record for reducing medical and litigation costs,” Williams says.

As the third-largest third party administrator and fourth-largest medical management provider in the country, Broadspire provides an effective ADR solution in all 33 states where legislative guidelines permit. The Broadspire/WCS solution can be implemented with fully insured, loss-sensitive, self-insured or Taft-Hartley Trust programs.

Collectively bargained workers compensation, also commonly referred to as union ADR or carve outs, provides enhanced medical delivery, significant cost savings and improved management/labor relations.

Independent studies, one conducted by Cornell University and the other by the California Workers

Compensation Institute (CWCI), have found that ADR programs result in:

• A 26 percent reduction in average length of claims

• A 58 percent savings in average cost of claims

• A 36 percent reduction in litigation rates.

“In my 42 years of experience in public safety labor I've never observed a labor/management Alternative Dispute Resolution program that will help the American worker and the business community like the ADR concept developed by Broadspire and Workers Compensation Solutions,” said Don Novey, executive director, California Peace Officers Memorial Foundation. “This full-service ADR nonadversarial advocacy program is vital for jobs, economic growth and protecting the American workforce.”

About Broadspire

Broadspire, a leading international third party administrator for large self-insured organizations, offers a broad array of customized claim and medical management services designed to increase employee productivity and contain costs. Broadspire's U.S. offering of workers compensation, auto and general liability claims administration, medical management and absence and care management, is available bundled or individually.

Share This Article: