Imagine you are the person accountable for subrogation withinyour organization. You believe you have a good subrogation programin place. The claims team is a mix of seasoned and new adjusterswith varying degrees of “subro awareness.” It is the end of theyear and the last recovery dollar has been posted. Now imagine thedisappointment as you realize you have fallen short of yourrecovery goal. What went wrong?

Weakest link

Insurers recognize successful subrogation programs are criticalto customer satisfaction and financial strength, but millions ofdollars are left unclaimed each year. In the lifecycle of a claim,the subrogation process can often be the weakest link. For manyyears, the identification and entire recovery process suffered froma lack of automation, having been handled manually by adjusterswith competing priorities and a lack of training in a variety ofsubrogation concepts.

Experienced subrogation professionals understand timelyidentification of a recovery opportunity is critical to success andthe best results occur when the subrogation potential is recognizedwithin days of the first notice of the claim.

Engaging technology to drive success

Most insurers have embraced the use of technology to enhance thecustomer experience, streamline internal practices and operate morecost effectively. “Insurance carriers and self-insureds seekinglong-term recovery solutions might consider the significanttechnology investment made by Spartan Recoveries, which hasenhanced both identification and recovery,” states Kathleen Smith,managing director of Spartan Recoveries LLC. “With the use ofproprietary, cutting-edge identification and recovery tools,Spartan offers their clients unparalleled recovery results throughmultiple recovery services specifically tailored for theirneeds.”

Advanced technology brings value to subrogationactivities

The right analytical tools can greatly assist in managing thesubrogation process. For example, automation can facilitate theassembly of the demand package so the specialist can quickly sendthe documents to the adverse party or insurer for review.Automation enables the specialist to focus on settling claims orpreparing claims having reached an impasse for the next step.

The use of technology can be critical in the identification andselection of claims with the greatest recovery potential, which arekey elements of successful Forensic File Reviews.

According to Smith, “Spartan Recoveries LLC has developedidentification tools and strategies to systemically review largequantities of claims data, exclude cases in which no recoveryexists, and further review and investigate cases having somerecovery potential. In addition, Spartan has developed apatent-pending recovery case management system known asSpartanRMS,™ designed by and for subrogation recoveryprofessionals.”

Regardless of whether subrogation is handled in-house, fullyoutsourced or partially supported by external vendors, a goodsubrogation platform should:

• Capture identified recovery opportunities and rate the expectedrecovery value

• Improve the recovery management process by tracking

• Reduce clerical tasks

• Offer customization to incorporate statute retention, researchand internal best practices

• Monitor and score the performance of internal workforce andexternal vendors

Strong results need a good beginning

“Spartan realized it was imperative to a good result to start bycreating an environment of experienced staff with access to asecure and proven platform which captures and monitors statutes oflimitation, negligence rules, parties of interest, arbitration& litigation modules, failsafe diary, expenses, negotiations,settlements and recoveries,” Smith explained. “TheSpartanConnection provides clients with interactive, fulltransparency in real-time for claims being worked on their behalf.Access also includes the ability to create customized reports.”

A final comment from Smith: “The combination of advancedtechnology and experienced talent can generate a seamlesstransition and immediate impact on subrogation programs. Spartanworks diligently to make sure no recovery dollar is left behind,and is committed to being a valuable business partner, consistentlyproviding outstanding results in assisting their clients achievetheir recovery goals.”

For more information about the services offered by SpartanRecoveries, contact Donna Geraghty [email protected] 866.780.0876 or visit Spartan'swebsite at www.spartanrecoveries.com.