In a bid to fight the increasing costs of claims, QBE Workers Compensation has announced a “new approach” to claims management. Under a new model called QBE Connect, the insurer is more actively involved with all parties involved in workers’ compensation cases. The aim is to have everyone come to a consensus that will get injured workers back on their feet faster.

QBE Workers’ Compensation GM Colin Fagen said the insurer is “culturally set to change the way workers’ compensation is managed in Australia”.

Mr Fagen said the “people aspect” of claims has been ignored in the past. The new model aims at getting greater input from all stakeholders, including the employer, the injured worker, doctors and healthcare specialists.

“Our new method puts all parties at the table, collectively determining the plan to recovery and committing to play their part,” Mr Fagen said.

Mr Fagen said the change is necessary in light of the increasing costs of the “adversarial and confrontational” way claims are managed. “We believe this new service strategy will, over time, translate into lower premiums for employers and create more opportunities for workers to return to work.”