initiatives that have severely impacted the examination providers. Pricing has become very
sensitive, leading to a commoditization of the services and the basis on which the providers
compete.
Many skilled examiners have left the industry to seek better paying opportunities outside the
insurance testing arena. Examiner fees have not kept pace with other skilled job
opportunities, creating great challenges to recruitment and retention of qualified examiners.
One provider suggests that unless the industry can better compensate the examiners, the
field personnel will eventually migrate to a much lower caliber of professionalism. Quite
simply, not enough of the billing trickles down to the examiner fees.
The financial results of the leading national suppliers suggest an industry infrastructure that
can no longer be supported in the current pricing environment. With the inability to pay
higher examiner wages, the industry is faced with the increased likelihood of poor examiner
quality and service. This will result in higher customer service and quality assurance costs
to confront the increased service and quality issues.
While the only apparent solution is to either increase prices or reduce costs, the customer
base will not tolerate the former, and the providers will struggle to accomplish the latter.
RAS provides a unique solution that works collaboratively with the providers in reducing
operating expenses and eliminating points of redundancy to reallocate customer spending
to the providers without increasing overall costs. RAS is retained by the customer as the
single point of contact to manage its service provider program, eliminating the need for
redundant meetings, conference calls, and issue resolutions. With a monthly retainer
based on case volume, there are no fixed costs associated with account management. As
RAS represents multiple carriers in managing the providers, there are built-in efficiencies in
the cost structure of the vendor management program. Service issues are not usually
restricted to a single carrier, but a universal break point in the provider’s operations. As an
independent account manager, RAS gains efficiencies through global issue resolution with
the provider while also addressing carrier specific problems. The provider also benefits
through a “one-stop” error resolution process representing multiple customers.
RAS works pro-actively with the providers to identify service risk areas. We will conduct
quarterly meetings with each provider to review performance, errors, accuracy, timeliness,
and other metrics designated by the customer. We will also negotiate realistic service level
agreements, drawing from industry standards, best practices and customer requirements.
The RAS Examiner Network will identify the best of the best independent credentialed
examiners in specific markets to create the highest quality network of professionals. This
registry will provide coverage alternatives when the approved providers do not meet the
customer's service level expectations.
Our mission is to deliver the most favorable, premier examination experience.
RAS will also provide consolidated billing, payment, and accounting for customers that allow
their producers and distributors to order services from independent examiners, paying them
the highest fees to assure the highest level of quality and service, without increasing overall
spending.
In addition to the highest fees paid, RAS will provide the following examiner benefits:
- A personalized homepage with order and status capabilities so the examiners can
better stay in touch with their customers - A private email address through the RASDirect.com network
- Approvals from key carriers
- Contracts with national vendors
- Additional work assignments from agents, carriers and other member examiners
- On-line scheduling functionality
- QA support and requirements updates
- Referral fees for cases outside the examiner's handling area
The RAS Examiner Network is currently under development.
