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VPA Inc. recognized for it's
key role in Pepsi Bottling Group's award-winning workers compensation and
disability management program
Employee Needs Drive Development of Integrated Workers Compensation And
Disability Management Program
November 2001
Calabasas, California – Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG), the world's largest
seller, manufacturer and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages, was named winner
of Risk & Insurance magazine's 10th Annual Workers' Compensation and
Disability Management contest. PBG was officially recognized for its integrated
approach, which required an unprecedented level of collaboration among its
workers compensation, disability benefits, and behavioral health care vendor
partners. The goal of the program was to unite all the resources of PBG's
vendor partners seamlessly and implement each exactly when needed during an
employee absence from work due to health reasons.
"We understood that by breaking down the
traditional barriers between workers compensation, disability management and
behavioral health, we would greatly improve our ability to provide the right
service to employees at the right time," explained Michael Rosenberg, Director,
Risk Management, PBG. "This was a critically important philosophy we wanted to
imbue in our organization as we embarked on our path as a new business
enterprise." At this time, PBG was forming its own identity independent from
its former parent company, PepsiCo. "We knew this would require a high degree
of collaboration and an in-depth understanding of PBG's processes by our vendor
partners. We selected business partners, like VPA Inc., that are leaders in
their respective fields to help us create the program, which was implemented
over a five-year timeframe," Rosenberg continued. VPA Inc. was selected to
manage the non-occupational disability management portion of the plan, and to
work collaboratively with PBG and its other vender partners.
After an intense strategic review assessing PBG's
disability and medical management practices, PBG found significant disparate
processes and redundancies in claim practices. The analysis indicated that
specific employee absences were far more costly and complex than previously
recognized, and required a much greater variety of services to help employees
recover quickly and efficiently. This, combined with results from a
comprehensive survey of employees absent from work due to a disability, became
the basis for an implementation plan that eventually rolled out the systematic
program in effect at PBG today. The focus of the program shifted from separate
claim processes built piecemeal fashion around work and non-work related
absences to a planned approach that required much greater collaboration around
a specific employee health related absence from work.
"VPA was encouraged to contribute its experiences
and apply its expertise to the program during the design phase as well as
during the implementation of this approach," explains Thomas Klett, Vice
President, VPA Inc. "Based on the collected data and findings, we developed a
technology platform in which VPA receives real time 'feeds' of information
directly from PBG's health care eligibility and workers compensation partners
as well as from a unique online Needs Assessment completed by employees
during the claim process-all of which contribute to the overarching goals of
improving the quality and delivery of care."
One of the unique aspects of this program is the
use of the Needs Assessment on selected disability cases. The Needs
Assessment identifies the key factors behind an employee's absence, and
is used as the basis to assign the lead manager to the event. The Needs
Assessment is a proprietary software decision support system that
uncovers the root drivers of absence. Root drivers can actually range from
general daily activities to self-perceptions of health status. Using this
information enables the program to garner much greater success in ensuring
timely, accurate benefits payments and increasing employee availability to
pertinent information that can assist in recovery.
The program was officially kicked off at
"Integrated University," hosted by PBG and attended by all involved. At the
University, each partner's staff was thoroughly trained on PBG's day-to-day
case management processes and policies prior to final rollout. Each vender
partner is now linked in a comprehensive case management process that includes
a review of all disability cases to determine the level of assistance required.
PBG will be officially recognized in the November
issue of Risk and Insurance magazine and during a special awards
ceremony at the annual National Workers Compensation and Disability Conference
at the Chicago Hilton Towers. The conference and exhibit will take place in
Chicago, Illinois on November 12th through the 14th.
About VPA, inc.
VPA Inc., headquartered in Calabasas, California,
helps employers solve the challenges associated with administering and managing
complex absence and disability programs, including FMLA,
short-term, long-term,
and state disability benefit plans. VPA's
expertise and technology, including web intake and inquiry, provide a complete
solution to improve productivity, control costs, and reduce the administrative
burden for self-insured employers. For more information, please visit
www.VPAinc.com.
Source: VPA, Inc.
Contact: Robert Trotta, 800-473-9761
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