Quality & Quantity: Liberty Mutual Expands Its Provider Network in California

Recent changes to Liberty Mutual's Medical Provider Network (MPN) mean employers will be able to better control their workers compensation medical costs. Additionally, injured workers will find it easier to receive care through a local provider.

Liberty Mutual expanded its MPN by adding 20,000 select providers from the Blue Cross of California WC network. This move raises the number of its caregivers to more than 50,000 throughout the state, enlarges the network's geographic reach, and makes more types of specialists available to patients. Liberty Mutual also added hospitals and clinics from Kaiser-on-the-Job, known for its expertise and experience in treating occupational injuries.

While the additional providers clearly benefits workers, the process Liberty Mutual used to choose the providers benefits companies. The insurer used its proprietary Medical Loss Data Mart analysis tool as a basis for selecting the providers. This allows Liberty Mutual to review the performance of caregivers in the areas that are key to delivering the best possible medical outcomes in a cost-effective manner, such as how closely providers follow established guidelines for treating injured workers and for billing payers.
In addition, Liberty Mutual received input from its California-based Regional Medical Directors, nurse case managers, and claims professionals.

Dr. Stephen Levit, a Liberty Mutual Regional Medical Director based in the insurer's Pleasanton office, said his company is always monitoring the performance of both current and potential MPN providers.

"After all," he said, "building a network that delivers quality medical care has a far greater impact on policyholders' total workers compensation costs than merely negotiating discounted fee schedules."

- U.S. Insurance News