PORTLAND, April 19, 2004–Through a new suite of managed care tools designed specifically for California companies, Intracorp can help slow down skyrocketing workers' compensation costs.

"With medical costs in California among the highest in the nation, and workers' compensation claims tripling since 1997, employers in California are scrambling for solutions," said Ken Ross, president of Intracorp. "We're utilizing aggressive cost-savings techniques and providing expert case management services to significantly improve the bottom-line results for our customers."

Intracorp can help manage workers' compensation costs in California through a number of services:

Utilization review - "We provide claim determinations that are consistent, fair, and clinically sound, in full compliance with California regulations," explained Ross. The company uses American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine evidence-based clinical guidelines supplemented by Intracorp's proprietary Optimal Treatment Guidelines, widely recognized by the medical community. "The combination of supportive California regulations, proven tools and the experience of our review nurses and physicians deliver a solid 9:1 return on investment to Intracorp customers," Ross said.

Expanded California Provider Network - Intracorp has enhanced its California offering in its arrangements with First Health direct networks and leased arrangements, and InterPlan. Intracorp can provide employers and claims payors with broader access to quality care and specialists, deeper discounts and improved direction of employees to more cost-effective providers of workers' compensation medical care.

Return to work - Intracorp delivers industry-leading outcomes through faster recoveries and shorter disability durations that help California employers achieve successful return to work results. "Our focus on return to work begins early in the case management process and in 2003, disability duration was reduced by nearly 30 percent while we achieved a 91 percent success rate on sustained re-employment," Ross said. "Our industry-leading technology and Web-based tools help speed the process."

California Health Care Organization (HCO) - Intracorp's California HCO provides participating employers with a network of best-in-class occupational physicians and hospitals that work with Intracorp's expert medical and vocational specialists to provide quality medical care and facilitate the return-to-work process. The HCO extends an employer's ability to direct and manage care in-network from 30 days up to 180 days.

Specialty Review Services - Through a partnership with Qmedtrix Systems, Inc., Intracorp offers customers a cost containment product designed to help employers and payors realize savings on provider services not addressed by fee schedules. Qmedtrix works seamlesslsly with Accumed(R), Intracorp's bill review service, to correct unrelated and unreasonable charges, basing recommendations on a comprehensive, industry-weighted database of paid data that are defensible and backed by extensive medical and legal expertise. "Recommendations through Qmedtrix yield an average reduction of nearly 60 percent of total bill charges, giving Intracorp's customers unbeatable savings," Ross said.

Intracorp is presenting its California cost solutions in booth 1613 at the Risk & Insurance Management Society annual conference taking place through April 22 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Philadelphia-based Intracorp (www.intracorp.com) provides health care, disability management, workers' compensation and automobile managed care solutions that prevent injuries and illnesses; ensure appropriate, high-quality health care; support claims management and reduce unnecessary medical and lost-time costs. Intracorp's services include demand and disease management, utilization management, case management, return-to-work programs, ergonomic consulting, provider fee management, provider network access and information management services. The company employs a diverse team of nearly 4,000 people and operates one of the nation's largest private-sector networks of medical directors, physician specialists and nurses for review services.

Copyright 2004 PR Newswire Association, Inc.

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