Third-party administrators (TPAs) provide a variety of servicesto the insurance industry. For some companies, they help expediteclaims while providing timely customer service and helping tomaximize a customer's assets. They may also provide riskmanagement, billing services, data and analytics, and in some casessubrogation expertise. The types of claims they handle may includegeneral liability, water damage, restoration, construction defect,automobile, property and casualty, product liability, professionalliability and employment practices to name a few.

Some clients view them as an extension of their claimsdepartments, providing valuable manpower at a time when resourcesmay be tight, but the need to provide excellent customer service ishigher than ever. Whatever their role, as the industry has changed,so has that of the TPA.

We spoke to MarkBernstein, vice president and director of national accounts forCarl Warren& Company, a national company that offers a range of claimsmanagement and third-party administrator solutions. He shared withus the role of the TPA, what to look for when hiring them and howto work with them effectively.