Faulty Impairment Ratings Creating Substantial Costs for Carriers

By John P. KaminWorkCompCentral CorrespondentORLANDO, Fla. -- The Hartford's review of more than 50,000 impairment ratings revealed that erroneous ratings cost insurers an average of $9,800 apiece, leading the insurer to believe that clinical review of impairment ratings could save it and other carriers as much as 10% on permanent partial disability payouts, a vice president for the insurer said. Establishing internal impairment rating review systems may be one of the quickest ways a carrier can reduce one of carriers' largest costs, according to Dr. Robert E. Bonner, vice president of...