Compliance is at the forefront of the claims community's mind. A chronic state of regulatory flux can leave adjusters especially confused. What can claims professionals do to alleviate some of the stress while achieving their educational goals? Here, we talk to Jeff Cook, director of sales and marketing at Xeneros, to explore potential solutions.

What challenges do claims professionals face to stay current with certifications and licensing?
The short answer is that they are extremely busy with their profession day to day. In order to be effective, claims professionals must stay current on an array of topics, educational requirements, regulations and handling protocols. The ever-evolving insurance landscape, industry certifications, special designations, and software are simply a few of the challenges and responsibilities they contend with on a regular basis.

The majority of state licenses are on a two year cycle; mix into that state regulations for maintaining (or obtaining) a license change cycle to cycle and it would be a daunting proposition for anyone.

What effect do state-specific requirements have on adjusters and other claims professionals?
I would have to say that not only is it intimidating and cumbersome, but it is also confusing. One state requires fingerprints, and another one doesn't. Which states require bonds? Which states reciprocate with which? There is little consistency across the states to get an adjusting license. Then when you factor in emergency/catastrophe adjusting licenses, it can get overwhelming. The whole process can be really intimidating especially because you don't do it day in and day out.

Do independents and staff adjusters grapple with different sets of issues?
The biggest difference between staff adjusters and independents is that the former are required by far fewer states to personally hold licenses. Another difference is that carriers typically have staff dedicated to licensure as part of their compliance departments. Independent adjusting firms, on the other hand, may lack the scale to merit full-time dedicated resources. This means that licenses may not get the attention they warrant.

What are some common problems along the way?
Some of the most common "hiccups" are simply not having the forms filled out correctly. Another big issue is the adjusters being unaware of what they have to do and when.

Are adjusters proactive enough?
As was mentioned earlier, adjusters are busy handling claims so very few are proactive to the necessary degree. In nearly all cases, they are reacting (and typically with timelines that are much shorter than is necessary.)

How can adjusters and managers address these issues while streamlining the process? How does Xeneros help?
Adjusters can start with being aware of what they need to do and when. They should review the requirements for all licenses and note if and how many CEs are required. It is also imperative to check on any recently instated regulations for each state. One of the most effective ways adjusters can be successful is to act early.

Xeneros lives in this arena day in and day out, so we stay current. We complete all of the necessary requirements to keep our clients compliant. We handle this entire process from cradle to grave, completing everything we can aside from tasks for which the person is absolutely essential, such as fingerprints or testing. Our compliance experts understand how to navigate the licensure process across all U.S. states. This breadth of knowledge makes license management easier for adjusters by allowing them to stay focused on working on claims. Secondarily, we offer a tool so a given company can manage this task themselves.

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Speaking Of: Tech-Enabled Compliance Solutions

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