Imagine you are the person accountable for subrogation within your organization. You believe you have a good subrogation program in place. The claims team is a mix of seasoned and new adjusters with varying degrees of “subro awareness.” It is the end of the year and the last recovery dollar has been posted. Now imagine the disappointment as you realize you have fallen short of your recovery goal. What went wrong?

Weakest link

Insurers recognize successful subrogation programs are critical to customer satisfaction and financial strength, but millions of dollars are left unclaimed each year. In the lifecycle of a claim, the subrogation process can often be the weakest link. For many years, the identification and entire recovery process suffered from a lack of automation, having been handled manually by adjusters with competing priorities and a lack of training in a variety of subrogation concepts.

Experienced subrogation professionals understand timely identification of a recovery opportunity is critical to success and the best results occur when the subrogation potential is recognized within days of the first notice of the claim.

Engaging technology to drive success

Most insurers have embraced the use of technology to enhance the customer experience, streamline internal practices and operate more cost effectively. “Insurance carriers and self-insureds seeking long-term recovery solutions might consider the significant technology investment made by Spartan Recoveries, which has enhanced both identification and recovery,” states Kathleen Smith, managing director of Spartan Recoveries LLC. “With the use of proprietary, cutting-edge identification and recovery tools, Spartan offers their clients unparalleled recovery results through multiple recovery services specifically tailored for their needs.”

Advanced technology brings value to subrogation activities

The right analytical tools can greatly assist in managing the subrogation process. For example, automation can facilitate the assembly of the demand package so the specialist can quickly send the documents to the adverse party or insurer for review. Automation enables the specialist to focus on settling claims or preparing claims having reached an impasse for the next step.

The use of technology can be critical in the identification and selection of claims with the greatest recovery potential, which are key elements of successful Forensic File Reviews.

According to Smith, “Spartan Recoveries LLC has developed identification tools and strategies to systemically review large quantities of claims data, exclude cases in which no recovery exists, and further review and investigate cases having some recovery potential. In addition, Spartan has developed a patent-pending recovery case management system known as SpartanRMS,™ designed by and for subrogation recovery professionals.”

Regardless of whether subrogation is handled in-house, fully outsourced or partially supported by external vendors, a good subrogation platform should:

  • Capture identified recovery opportunities and rate the expected recovery value

  • Improve the recovery management process by tracking

  • Reduce clerical tasks

  • Offer customization to incorporate statute retention, research and internal best practices

  • Monitor and score the performance of internal workforce and external vendors

Strong results need a good beginning

“Spartan realized it was imperative to a good result to start by creating an environment of experienced staff with access to a secure and proven platform which captures and monitors statutes of limitation, negligence rules, parties of interest, arbitration & litigation modules, failsafe diary, expenses, negotiations, settlements and recoveries,” Smith explained. “The SpartanConnection provides clients with interactive, full transparency in real-time for claims being worked on their behalf. Access also includes the ability to create customized reports.”

A final comment from Smith: “The combination of advanced technology and experienced talent can generate a seamless transition and immediate impact on subrogation programs. Spartan works diligently to make sure no recovery dollar is left behind, and is committed to being a valuable business partner, consistently providing outstanding results in assisting their clients achieve their recovery goals.”

For more information about the services offered by Spartan Recoveries, contact Donna Geraghty at [email protected] 866.780.0876 or visit Spartan's website at www.spartanrecoveries.com.

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