Disability Management Institute’s (DMI) Advice to Pay program is a self-insured Short-Term Disability (STD) solution that provides employers with expert support in adjudicating and managing employee’s medical absence claims. Organizations with highly effective STD programs see decreases in their overall benefit costs, absence durations, claims incidence, and levels of turnover.
Whenever an employee needs to make a claim for a STD benefit, the company simply notifies DMI and the claim will be assigned to a dedicated case manager. DMI gathers all necessary claim forms, absence and medical details. From there they complete a function-focused analysis that considers information from a wide range of sources including medical information, policy, and other factors unique to an employee that could influence their recovery. Once the analysis is complete, DMI will provide the employer with a recommendation on whether the claim meets the criteria for approval and outline an estimated timeline for recovery and return-to-work.
How does the Advice to Pay Program help the employer?
- Comprehensive review
- DMI’s Advice to Pay program takes into consideration all factors influencing an absence (inclusive of the medical, functional, occupational, non-medical factors, and policy provisions)
- Impartial perspective
- DMI assesses claims without bias and in the context of the employer’s absence management and short-term disability plan
- Accountability
- DMI understands your business and operational needs while remaining focused on the goal of a safe and sustained return to work
- Confidence
- Having a trusted partner in DMI provides assurance that not only are your employees’ best interests at the forefront, but ensures your needs are being met.
What’s the takeaway?
The Advice to Pay program can be offered on a case-by-case basis or coordinated on a monthly retainer model with monthly costs based on prior claims history. Knowing your monthly costs provides stability in your overall absence management planning and budgetary needs.
Beyond the actual cost of the service, DMI is committed to providing a timely and appropriate touch on each file. Efforts are made to minimize duration and actively seek return to work opportunities from the onset of the referral. Emphasis is not only on the medical components of the group, but also takes into consideration functional abilities in an effort to identify modified return to work opportunities. This equates to a shorter duration of the overall absence, with less impact on your business. By increasing return to work success in the STD period, fewer claims will transition to Long-Term Disability, resulting in reduced benefit premiums.
Lastly, having a proactive and thoughtful provider like DMI overseeing your Advice to Pay program demonstrates to your employees your dedication to health and wellness. Your employees will observe your commitment to supporting them during their time of need and assisting them back to work. Employees appreciate the personalized support they receive from their DMI contact and the opportunities to get back to doing what matters to them sooner.
Talk to an expert today!
DMI is committed to providing timely support and information to our clients. We have been working with employees and employers nationwide to provide comprehensive end-to-end solutions for their absence and disability management needs.
Interested in learning more about Advice to Pay and how disability management services can help control disability claim costs? Request a free review of your claims experience from a DMI expert to determine if you will benefit from DMI’s claims management services.