New report touts the success of MCOs in Ohio Workers' Compensation

The Kilbourne Company, an independent actuarial consulting firm, recently conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Health Partnership Program (HPP) over its first decade of operation. The focus of the study is an analysis of the Ohio State Insurance Fund claim experience from 1995 through 2006 with particular emphasis on the impact of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) on that experience.

The basic conclusion of the study as stated within “is that the Health Partnership Program has achieved its objectives and is producing value for the HPP stakeholders, which includes a broad cross-section of persons affected by the Ohio workers’ compensation system.” Some of the successes of HPP cited in this evaluation include:

· $443 million in net savings

· Injured workers returning to work sooner and safer

· 77% improvement in injury reporting lag time

· Approval decisions on injured worker claims processed 61% faster

· 53% faster turnaround of medical provider bills

· 35% reduction in the frequency of claims

· Substantial positive satisfaction rating by both employers and employees

As you can see, MCOs have been instrumental at improving the Ohio workers’ compensation system. Additionally, employers such as yourself, and your injured workers, have immensely benefited from those improvements.