Workers Compensation
An injury at the workplace can be devastating to both the injured employee and your business. Safeco's proactive, service-oriented Workers Compensation program ensures quality claims management and timely medical care for injured employees at a reasonable cost to your business.
When you are notified of a work-related injury, please immediately call us to report the incident at (800) 332-3226.How It Works
First, we’ll contact the injured worker to discuss the employee’s medical status and to provide information about benefits. We are committed to providing prompt, attentive service to try to alleviate some of the anxiety and uncertainty that injured workers often experience. In some cases, we’ll begin temporary disability payment after we verify the disability.
We’ll also contact the employer and medical provider to obtain comprehensive information about the injury, medical condition, and treatment plan.
Learn more about our claims process.
Get information on our Early Return to Work program, which helps injured workers rturn to the workforce in a modified role while they are recovering.
State-Approved Health Care Networks
Safeco has state-approved health care networks in Texas and California. You can find state- required notices, forms, and other information on the following resource pages:
Medical Management Programs
Our claims department has a variety of medical management programs that help contain medical costs and improve the quality and timeliness of medical care. Our programs include:
- Medical Bill Review
- Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
- Telephonic Case Management
- Specialized Services Network
- Pharmacy Benefit Management Program
- Occupational Health and Industrial Clinic Network
Claims Process
Safeco’s claims staff and Nurse Case Managers work with all parties to help injured employees remain in or return to the workplace as quickly as possible. Members of this team work together to:
- Assess medical treatment plans, job requirements, transitional work, and medical barriers
- Communicate with all parties including employers, medical providers, and injured employees to discuss opportunities for transitional work
- Establish plans to facilitate medical recovery
Early Return to Work
Safeco is a strong supporter of Early Return to Work programs. These programs help workers remain in or rejoin the workforce in a temporary, modified role while they are recovering. They also help restore an employee's sense of value and self-worth.
For employers, they are an effective way to manage the total cost of a Workers Compensation program, including medical and vocational rehabilitation costs. Early Return to Work programs also:
- Allow an injured employee to remain a productive member of the employer's workforce
- Demonstrate the employer's interest and concern for injured employees
- Reduce the length of the disability and the medical costs associated with the injury
- Maintain open and ongoing communication between the employer, the employee, and the treating provider
- Minimize malingering
For employers, they are an effective way to manage the total cost of a Workers Compensation program, including medical and vocational rehabilitation costs. Early Return to Work programs also:
Medical Bill Review
Through a completely automated process, we review all physician and treatment bills to ensure they correlate with applicable state fee schedules. We also review for duplicate billing and other potential errors, and then administer preferred provider discounts when applicable. For expensive provider and hospital bills, we also have additional review programs in place to make sure we are paying an appropriate amount on those bills.
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
A PPO is a network of hospitals and health care providers that offer quality services at reduced rates. A network normally includes most major hospitals in a given area, as well as surgery centers and home health care agencies. These preferred providers have contracted with the PPO to offer services to Workers Compensation claimants at rates that are usually much lower than normal charges.
To quickly access a listing of our preferred providers or to create your own customized provider directory, please use our online system, Talispoint.
Telephonic Case Management
Safeco has onsite registered nurses who specialize in the early evaluation of claims. Their role includes:
- Maintaining active communication with the employer, the Safeco Claims examiner, the medical provider, and the injured employee
- Assessing medical treatment plans, functional abilities, and medical barriers
- Facilitating medical recovery and developing an Early Return to Work plan
- Assisting in directing injured employees to the preferred provider network
Specialized Services Networks
We’ve established preferred vendor relationships in order to achieve negotiated discounts, below- fee schedules, durable medical equipment, diagnostic services, transportation, home health services, and physical therapy services.
Pharmacy Benefit Management Program
Safeco has an established relationship with a national Pharmacy Benefit Management Company. This program proactively manages the pharmacy aspect of all claims. We are able to get the best available pricing for prescriptions, manage drug utilization, avoid drug interactions, and encourage use of generics versus brand-name prescriptions. Safeco encourages the use of this pharmacy network for all work-related pharmaceutical services.
Occupational Health and Industrial Clinic Network
We work with a national network of occupational health clinics to make quality occupational health care services immediately available to you and your employees. This works to lower overall costs and provide:
- Prompt, quality medical treatment to help injured workers quickly return to the workplace
- Improved communication between you, the physician, Safeco, and the injured worker
- Claim handlers and Nurse Case Managers to ensure appropriate and timely care
- A focus on getting injured employees back to work as soon as possible through the Early Return to Work program
