Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

MADISON—Wisconsin’s nationally recognized workers compensation program recently launched a new internet-based management system making it easier for insurers and claims administrators to gain real-time access to the status of workers compensation claims.  The internet program replaces a very paper intensive system and will eliminate 250,000 mailings per year and save the time of workers who normally mail notices and process replies from paper documents into the state claims information system.

The new internet system will save an estimated half-million pieces of paper annually.  In addition, an estimated 20,000 hours of staff time in handling paper will be saved annually by private insurance claims administrators and state staff.

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Linda Stewart said Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to implement an interactive reporting system.  She said the system is another example of Wisconsin’s innovative efforts to serve the workforce and businesses and more effectively and efficiently.

"The system is an innovative service that puts Wisconsin’s customers first and allows for more efficient information sharing," said Stewart.   "The program is good business use of the internet and gives customers real-time access to live claim information."

The Insurers' Pending Reports System is an internet-based claims management tool for insurers and claims administrators that provides up-to-the minute status of open claims with respect to reporting requirements to the Workers Compensation Division.  Any insurer or claims administrator can use the system to find out if the Workers Compensation Division is waiting for reports on any given claim and to determine when reports are due.

Upon reviewing a claim, an insurer can reply using an e-mail feature to provide information regarding a specific report.  In addition, the system provides reason-coded explanations of the reports.  The program, which lists 50,000 claims at any given time, is password protected and allows insurers to download information.

State officials anticipate the system will improve reporting compliance and reduce forfeiture actions and communication time lapses.

The Workers Compensation Division, housed in the Department of Workforce Development, (DWD) works with insurance carriers, privately self-insured employers and medical providers to ensure that injured workers receive medical care and compensation benefits guaranteed by workers compensation law.  The division manages workplace injury claims for over 20,000 employers, 400 insurance carriers and 200 privately self-insured employers, hundreds of medical providers and 65,000 injured workers each year.  During the 1997-1999 biennium, the division:

• Processed 130,000 injury claims.
• Issued $1.7 million of supplemental disability benefits to injured workers.
• Established $7.7 million balance in the Uninsured Employers Fund.
• Completed 57,715 investigations of Wisconsin employers.
• Assessed 2,808 employers penalties for operating without worker’s compensation insurance.
• Collected more than $2.5 million in fines from illegally uninsured employers.
• Developed a first-in-the-nation performance measurement report with nine evaluation measurements that evaluates an insurer’s performance.
• Conducted over 2,500 formal hearings.
• Issued over 18,000 judicial orders to resolve injury disputes.

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Link to WC Insurers' Pending Reports System - http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/wc/pendreports.htm