Reduction of Workers' Compensation Costs Through The Use of Existing In-house Resources

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Collin County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Texas. Today’s challenging economic environment has increased the need for government organizations to seek more cost effective methods of operations. The Collin County Commissioners’ Court is dedicated to maintaining or reducing tax rates. In accordance with this objective, the county continually seeks innovative ways to control or reduce costs while still providing quality service to county residents and a good working environment for county employees. Collin County’s use of internal case management and the existing employee clinic rather than expensive emergency room treatment for basic injuries has provided innovative cost effective means of providing quality medical care to individuals injured on the job. The successful partnership of Human Resources, Health Care and departmental managers has contributed to a 30 percent cost savings in medical claims while enabling Collin County to provide better case and services to injured employees. The positive financial impact of this program is expected to increase as the county continues to grow. Immediately preceding the implementation of this program, medical claim costs had increased to their highest level of $36,525. Yet in the first year of this program’s existence in 2008, the county experienced a 30 percent decrease—or $10,983—in medical claims costs. The decreases have continued, as the program continues to increase effectiveness in county operations.