We Want to Be Your Partner
As the largest privately held TPA in the country, we serve many national accounts, but just as many local and regional accounts. The marketplace may believe that one size fits all, but at CCMSI we know that bigger isn’t always better.
CCMSI knows that you may not have all the resources you need, but as your partner, we help you get the job done. We start with a dedicated account manager who listens to your needs and follows your instructions. Regardless of your size, we take the time to get to know you personally and develop a plan that works specifically for you.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
CCMSI strives to maintain constructive relationships, passionately focus on client service, and maintain contagious enthusiasm for our clients. See what some of our partners have to say about us:
“The sentiment here is absolutely mutual. FABULOUS business Partner.”
“I would like to express Orange County’s appreciation of the professional staff at CCMSI. During this year you were able to assist us with an RMIS issue that arose with our vendor. You also facilitated the conversion from our prior TPA effortlessly. I think the biggest compliment Orange County can provide to CCMSI is that the communication between CCMSI and Orange County is superior.
There are always going to be issues that arise, but when proper communication is in place it minimizes their impact, and they can be addressed and resolved.
Thank you for your professionalism.”
“Let me extend my warmest and sincere thanks to everyone at CCMSI. You and the rest of CCMSI were my co-workers and my extended family. I know how difficult it is to rationalize a claim, and to come to a decision that is best for injured workers and company but because of your efforts and dedicated adjusters we all made it happen.”
“CCMSI has been a third-party administrator with SBM for over the last seven years. They have continuously demonstrated outstanding customer service with an extraordinary level of responsiveness across the country.
The unique business scope as well as geographical challenges of SBM provides a demand of diversity within the adjusters on the account as well as a strong account manager. CCMSI has delivered on the demanding needs of SBM above the expectations from when we started the relationship.
The willingness for them to understand the needs of our business, and the strategies SBM puts into action for aggressive claims management driving down ultimate costs for the business. They are a class above many other TPA’s we have evaluated and look to continue the relationship as we grow year after year.”
Local & Regional
Tailored to Fit
Our local and regional adjusters understand your risk exposure because they live and work in your community.
At CCMSI, our adjusters have the autonomy and authority to make timely decisions and develop a personal relationship with you and your team. We listen and work in close collaboration with you to deliver the results you expect.
At CCMSI, we provide our local and regional accounts with proprietary technology tailored to fit your specific needs…no matter how big or small.
The CCMSI Local and Regional Account Model
1. Service Excellence
Your local account manager knows your business inside and out.
2. Custom Plans
We help create a custom detailed Quality Service Plan (client service instructions).
3. Training
We provide extensive pre and post inception training for you and your staff.
4. Consistent Communication
Regular service team meetings ensure understanding and compliance of your Quality Service Plan.
5. Accountability
The entire service team will be held accountable and evaluated upon compliance the Quality Service Plan.
6. Cohesive Partnership
Our local adjusters develop strong communication and rapport with our clients’ staff and schedule frequent site visits to facilitate an effective partnership approach.
National Accounts
A Truly Unique Management Model
CCMSI believes in aggressive claims adjusting and has developed a national account management model that provides consistent proactive claims management. We follow the strict compliance instructions set by our clients’ Quality Service Plans.
Customized Agile Service
We listen and work in close collaboration with your staff to create and deliver the model that meets your needs. We will identify the desired model and desired adjuster profile prior to selecting service locations and staff. We realize it is not just about selecting technically strong adjusters, but also adjusters that will embrace your culture and serve your employees and claimants with the same passion and standard of excellence delivered by you.
CCMSI’s flexible and agile management and operational structure gives our clients a custom plan unsurpassed by any in our industry.
*CCMSI currently operates 33 offices across the country and offers both workers’ compensation and liability claim capabilities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
The CCMSI National Account Model
1. Service Excellence
Your designated account manager knows your business inside and out.
2. Custom Plans
We help create a custom detailed Quality Service Plan (client service instructions).
3. Training
We provide extensive pre and post inception training of your Service Team Members.
4. Consistent Communication
Regular service team conference calls ensure understanding and compliance of your Quality Service Plan.
5. Accountability
The entire service team will be held accountable and evaluated upon compliance to the Quality Service Plan.
6. Cohesive Partnership
Our local adjusters develop strong communication and rapport with our client’s staff and schedule frequent site visits to facilitate an effective partnership approach.
Self-Insured Groups
We Work Together So You Move Ahead
At CCMSI, we created a self-funded program that takes into consideration the needs of you and your members. When you’re ready to pursue the self-funded option, we’ll do all the heavy lifting. We will meet with your association to evaluate your needs, provide a program development study and obtain the operating authority required to put your plan in place.
When it comes to the numbers, we will provide you all the accounting services that deliver the financial reporting required for your members and various regulatory authorities. And our extensive underwriting ensures underwriting discipline across all operations. We help you optimize risk selection, pricing and portfolio management.
Services
Administration
Once your program is up and running, we’ll assist you with all of the following:
- Client service — answering coverage/billing questions
- Issuance of quotes and invoices
- Collection of member contributions
- Setup and maintenance of member control sheets
- Issuance of certificates of coverage
- Development of program policies and procedures manuals
- The obtaining of excess and department of insurance approvals
- Placement and monitoring of receipt of policies and endorsements, payment and excess premiums
- Performance of all accounting and financial reporting functions
- Handling of daily cash receipts and disbursement transactions
- Submission of required data to National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)
- Calculation of payroll audits, claims retro adjustments
- Performance of renewal functions (annual and mid-term)
- Attendance and contribution at board of trustees meetings, educational meetings and seminars
Management
Our comprehensive management services include:
- “Vision” — System for Program Management
- Program feasibility studies
- Underwriting analysis — member and group
- Excess submissions
- Billing — initial and retro
- Linked claim systems
- Payroll audit analysis/billing
- Services customized by association — proposal formats, credit schedules, underwriting evaluation
- Planned — further integration — accounting
Accounting Services
When it comes to the numbers, we’ll provide all the financial reporting required for your members and various regulatory authorities, including:
- A monthly financial statement package
- Investment analysis
- Reserve/IBNR analysis
- Compliance testing — to ensure compliance with all applicable quarterly state tax filings
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Actuarial study coordination
- Coordination of annual audit with independent CPA
- Account receivables — collection of monthly premiums, invoicing, A/R recommendations and analysis, if necessary, coordination of collection and legal services
- Coordination of payroll audits
- Funding analysis
- Board meeting presentation
- Accounts payable services
- Bank reconciliation and funding
Underwriting Services
Through our extensive underwriting services, we’ll help you:
- Develop and send underwriting surveys to members
- Develop or update underwriting standards and procedures
- Perform underwriting analysis to determine feasibility and viability of programs
- Assemble and submit new and renewal underwriting information to the excess carrier
- Negotiate appropriate terms and conditions with excess carrier
- Review and approve/decline potential new members
- Analyze reserves and incurred losses
- Develop loss triangles to calculate IBNR
- Determine actuarial implications of IBNR
- Complete aggregate claim tracking reports
- Provide risk management analysis on an ongoing basis
SIG Formation
It isn’t easy to establish a successful self-insured group (SIG) and keep it running efficiently over years and decades. That’s why CCMSI has put into place methods that help ensure SIG success now and into the future.
It all begins with the foundation. A SIG must be formed properly in order to work. And, without backing by a professional association, it might never get off the ground. When an association supports the SIG concept, that concept gains instant credibility.
With association support, the SIG business model can then be developed with help from carefully selected business partners, including brokers, a TPA, accountants and additional service companies.
Through a very complicated process, the TPA can help the association determine if a self-insured group is wanted by potential members and financially feasible. Then, that TPA can move forward to gain governmental approval, underwriting and handle administrative and management functions, if desired.
In general SIG formation requires:
- The support of a professional association.
- A quality board of trustees to represent the new self-insured group.
- A TPA and other partners with proven track records handling the development and management of self-insured groups.
- Underwriting the program with member companies with proven low loss ratios.
- Funding the program adequately.
- Selecting an excess insurance carrier of quality.
Best Practices in SIG Management
Once formed, SIGs must be aggressively and proactively managed to be successful over years and decades. To operate well, every sector – underwriting, claims, loss control and accounting – is reliant on information and data from the other sectors. It is a cyclical process and demands an expert team willing to work together. Trustees of the SIG are also key to its success. They must absorb information from all the management areas and make decisions on behalf of the SIG.
1. The Management Team
When it comes to management, go with experts. Field a management team with experience running SIGs. A TPA with experience managing SIGs will offer the group a wealth of resources to draw upon that they might otherwise lack – industry experience, training, safety and loss prevention strategies and claims technology, among others.
2. Underwriting
With the team in place, management and communication begin. Careful evaluation of new members and existing members is important. A SIG’s underwriter considers the risk of an account, prices the account and determines if that account is one to keep in the group. Underwriting is a continuous and critically important part of SIG management.
3. Claims Management
With CCMSI Best Practices at the forefront, the claims management program should be designed around the SIG’s goals, unique risk exposures and special claim handling. There must be an adequate number of claim adjusters and supervisors in place to manage the SIG’s exposure and risk. Good communication between claimants, employers, the SIG and the TPA makes it easier to resolve claims sooner – saving loads of money in the long run.
4. Safety and Loss Control
Best practices in safety and loss control begin by getting to know individual SIG member companies and gaining their trust. The goal is to establish a long-term partnership with the service provider. To fully benefit from the rewards of loss control, safety services require a consistent and dedicated approach that mirrors the goals of the SIG and its members.
SIGs should strive to identify safety issues and potential exposures through member site inspections, conversations and claim data; develop solutions for those exposures; and track results. Excellent loss control begins with consultants knowledgeable in the inherent exposures of a specific industry. Having existing knowledge allows for proactive service prior to injuries occurring. Additionally, consultants must be familiar with claims data and the identification of trends or issues that point to a problem.
5. Accounting
A SIG’s accounting function drives much of how a SIG is managed year to year. As such, the SIG’s accounting staff handles more than just accounts payable, accounts receivable and the general ledger. They work very closely with investment managers, actuaries, claims and underwriting to manage cash flow, investments of premiums and budgets.
Once again, to ensure best practices, SIGs should contract with an accountant experienced in self-insured groups. There are many state-specific laws SIGs must comply with that relate to taxes, reporting and even investing. To generate additional income on member premiums, SIGs invest extra funds that aren’t needed for immediate cash flow. The accounting facet ensures the investments of premiums fall within state regulations.
At the end of the policy period, third-party actuaries use the accounting records and estimate liabilities, set overall reserves, and estimate premiums for the upcoming policy year. The actuarial forecast offers insight into how the SIG is performing and whether or not the management areas need improvement.
Membership Cultivation & Retention
Finally, with formation established and management processes flowing efficiently, SIGs must work relentlessly to retain and grow membership. Key to retention and growth is a SIG’s ability to educate current and potential members about how the group differs from commercial insurance: by delivering loss-control services tailored to each member’s particular business; hands-on claims management where employers are directly involved in claims resolution; and the potential return of profits based on each member’s loss ratio.
In general, self-insured groups form to help create a stable market within a specific industry for workers’ compensation. Through good communication of a SIG’s potential cost savings and value-added loss control and claims management services, they can effectively retain quality members and attract new ones of similar caliber.
Communication of Value-Added Services
Communication requires effort, and members must be educated and constantly massaged. Through personal, regular contact with its members, a SIG can succeed and retain members year after year.
While face-to-face communication, unique services and member relationships are critical to maintaining retention, other indirect and direct marketing methods also glean results. Sometimes, the hardest part of bringing in new members, is finding them in the first place. That’s why SIGs use multiple techniques for zeroing in on potentially high-quality members.
Brokers
By developing relationships with brokers, SIGs can gain new business. By gaining broker buy-in, SIGs gain the broker’s book-of-business and access to hundreds of prospects.
State Agencies
State agencies often recruit new business, and by aligning with those agencies, SIGs can attract new members. One very successful SIG in Mississippi writes business for start-up companies, but only after the businesses get the green light from loss-control engineers who inspect those companies face-to-face.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents write a huge amount of workers’ compensation business. By providing those insurance agents with incentives and the SIG’s marketing tools – brochures, sales materials and DVDs – it’s easier to gain new members.
Member Referrals
Similarly, by requesting and rewarding member referrals, SIGs can draw new members. Some SIG members are asked for referrals and awarded prizes when those referrals culminate in new business. While there are many avenues for pinpointing possible new members, it helps the salesperson – agents, brokers, TPA representatives or SIG employees – to have back-up: marketing materials that help them close the deal.
Marketing
Since a SIG isn’t structured the same as traditional insurance, the benefits often take time to sink in. That’s why some SIGs market through Web sites, newsletters, seminars or advertising.
In the end, retaining and attracting members comes as a result of constant effort. Year to year, it takes continuous communication, outstanding service, ongoing marketing and professional alliances to do the job well.
Our Clients
Additional Locations
A full listing of our offices, nationwide.
CCMSI is an Affirmative Action / Equal Employment Opportunity Employer