Pacific Life Re has engaged a health and wellness consultant to help update its claims rules engine.

The engine is part of a suite of products within the reinsurer’s online underwriting platform.

It conducts a comprehensive initial assessment for claimants and doctors, and provides claim decisions and recommendations for rehabilitation and return to work. It incorporates 6500 medical conditions.

Thrive Re Consulting will undertake research to identify factors and questions to be integrated into the engine.

Pacific Life Re says the research will improve speed and accuracy of claims decision-making.

The engine is expected to be released early next year.

The company has also appointed Lindsay Stark as senior underwriting developer in response to growing demand for its online technology platform, UnderWriteMe. He will report to head of Underwriting and Claims in Australia Andrew Gill.

Mr Stark was most recently at MetLife, where he held the position of underwriting services manager. He has also held roles with BT Financial Group, TAL Life and Munich Re.