Combined Group Solutions Blog

Distracted Driving - an Accident on It's Way to Work

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 15:08:18 GMT

You've probably heard the joke about the driver complaining about another driver who cut her off in traffic because he was too busy talking on his cell phone - "Made me spill my hamburger, fries and drink all over myself."

Anchor Risk Management says there is no such thing as a good distraction, so whether it's talking, texting, eating, pets or personal grooming, all are bad. But some are more prevalent than others.

The National Safety Council says that one in four crashes on the highway now involve cell phone talking, dialing or texting. By that statistic alone, cell phones are a huge risk for drivers.

Know Your State's Laws on Cell Phone Use

Twenty states ban all drivers from sending or receiving cell phone text messages while behind the wheel. Another 10 impose restrictions on certain drivers, such as teens and school bus drivers. We can expect more new restrictions to take effect before the end of the year, some possibly banning teens from any cell phone use while driving.

Hands-free Solves Only Part of the Problem

While hands-free devices free up hands and eyes for driving, they don't negate the distraction of talking while driving. Drivers conducting business or personal conversations on cell phones simply cannot pay full attention to driving. In the big picture, it's not much different from daydreaming.

The Smart Drive Systems Distracted Driving Index, a quarterly benchmark of commercial fleet driving distraction rates, just reported distracted driving among new commercial drivers increased 9% in the second quarter of 2010. The top five distractions include:

* Object in hand, down 11% from previous quarter
* Handheld mobile phone, up 27%
* Beverage, up 7%
* Smoking, up 30%
* Operating handheld device, up 38%

These numbers should alarm any employer, but especially those that have vehicle fleets to operate and insure. You can help your clients by letting them know about the problem, and an educational program developed by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS).

Please contact Anchor Risk Management any time you have a driving or other occupational safety question. E-mail Bill Propes, or call him at 214-295-1563.

6 Reasons Why Nursing Facilities Choose Texas Nonsubscription

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:43:47 GMT

Nursing Homes, Visiting Nurses and Retirement Centers as a group have pioneered many of the things we know about Texas nonsubscriber insurance programs today. These insureds implemented in-house nonsubscriber programs decades ago, before insurance was available for this risk. Now with an abundance of nonsubscriber coverage options, it is estimated over 90% of nursing homes in Texas 'opt-out' of workers' compensation. Nursing homes choose to be nonsubscribers for three principle reasons: higher satisfaction, control of claims and program costs.

For example:

1. Many nursing homes in Texas are in small towns or in areas outside the major metropolitan areas. In these cases, the availability of a wide choice of physicians, acute care providers or specialized clinics participating in the workers' compensation network may be non-existent. Nonsubscribing provides the opportunity to establish a relationship with those doctors, which in turn improves treatments to injured works and provides for better return to work outcomes. Involvement by the employer allows the small town nursing home to have an important influence on truly qualified medical doctors who treat their injured employees. This is not always possible with workers' compensation where the paperwork is prescribed and the "third party" insurance carrier handles the payments.

2. The nonsubscribing nursing home may instruct the doctor to provide an "activity report", stating what the employee can and cannot do while recovering, rather than simply stating that the employee can or cannot work. This provides the employer with the ability to bring the employee back to "modified duty". Back to work is better for both the employee and employer.

3. When employees are off work due to a job-related injury, and workers' compensation is in place, the employee discovers that Temporary Income Benefits payable by the workers' compensation carrier are not taxable. Employees pre-disposed to "work the system" determine these benefits are as much or more than their take-home pay and not taxable. As minimum wage earners this may create an incentive to stay at home.
4. Implementation of an ERISA and Arbitration plan provides the work force with clarity about how and when claims are to be reported paid and disputed. It's a fair and transparent system. This is ever more important for nursing homes where the claim may be an occupational disease.

5. Nursing homes may see relatively high employee turnover rate, making pre-employment background checks, drug screens, and pre-employment physicals cost-prohibitive. Costs are, of course, a major consideration for most businesses, but even more so among nursing homes, which are the most highly regulated business in the state of Texas. To comply with an overwhelming number of regulations, particularly in homes that accept Medicare/Medicaid, controlling costs are highly important. Nonsubscribing is a cost savings alternative.

6. In some instances, the nursing home and similar healthcare facilities also have the opportunity to reduce medical costs by providing treatment with their own in-house physical therapists, clinical laboratories, pharmacies, etc., if they choose to do so. In workers' compensation, common ownership of the medical provider is typically not allowed. Therefore, this may be an advantage available only to the non-subscriber.

Blake Y Stock, CEO
Combined Group Insurance Services
214-295-1610

Three Great Selling Points You Can Use To Get Texas Nonsubscriber Business Now

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 15:22:20 GMT

We talk with agents in the field every day about the benefits of nonsubscription for their clients. Many ask us for the best selling points to use to frame their presentations. We like to get these questions, because they give us a chance to share the selling ideas other agents are using. Here are the top three.

1) Cost Effective - We all know workers compensation pricing has become much more price sensitive. Nonsubscription has taken the same path, and has maintained its competitive advantage. Companies that previously couldn't afford on-the-job injury plans are getting them now, which is good news for employees and employers alike. An added benefit: employers also can channel savings into accident prevention programs.

2) Employer Control - The volatile work environment we are in presently has caused many layoffs. As a result, disability pay and fraudulent health claims are spiking, as some workers try to game the system in case of possible job losses. By installing nonsubscription plans, employers gain greater control over claims procedures and treatment regimens. Better still, nonsubscribing employers frequently report improved employee relations and higher productivity.

3) Claims Management - Nonsubscribing employers have the freedom to establish claims management processes that fit the unique needs of their companies. The employer sets the rules, not an insurance company. Professional claims management assures prompt, affordable medical treatment that returns injured employees to work as soon as possible - and it reinforces the company's professional image among employees. Combined Group's Anchor Claims Management subsidiary establishes and directs claims management processes according to industry best practices for many nonsubscribing employers. Ask them about the many ways they can help your clients.

For more information about Nonsubscription contact Lance Johnson at 469-892-9831, or email him at ljohnson@combinedgroup.com.

http://www.nonsubscription.net
http://www.anchor-claims.com
http://www.combinedgroup.com/cg2006/Nonsubscription.aspx