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The Benefits of Bringing Outside Perspectives to the Workers’ Compensation Industry
The worlds of workers’ compensation and traditional health care benefits are not too far apart. If we look at the core of both industries, we see that workers’ comp and health care have the same goal: heal injured or ill individuals and get them back to their daily lives.
For workers’ comp specifically, bringing in an outside perspective from health care could go a long way in increasing value and boosting positive results. Case in point: One Call brought on Howard Cutler, chief strategy & network officer, and Steve Schultz, chief growth officer, during the second half of 2023.
Between them, Cutler and Shultz have nearly 50 years of experience in health care, but neither had spent time in workers’ comp until joining the One Call team. Luckily, they’ve taken to the industry with enthusiasm, equipped with their own fresh insight and perspective on how to help comp thrive.
“I was initially drawn to One Call because of its purpose-driven culture. As I delved deeper, I realized the workers’ compensation industry is evolving in ways similar to the commercial health care space 10 to 15 years ago,” Schultz shared.
“Having experienced similar changes [in health care], I saw an opportunity to make an impact at One Call by being part of this transformation,” said Schultz.
Cutler and Schultz continued to share why their switch to work comp was a natural one, what the industry can gain from outside perspectives, and how blending ideas across workers’ comp and health care can garner great success.
From Health Care to Workers’ Comp: A Natural Switch
Howard Cutler, Chief Strategy & Network Officer, One Call
As Schultz noted, making the career switch from health care to workers’ compensation was an interesting one, because some of the workers’ comp changes of today have been in motion in group health for years.
“Many niche players from the commercial side are now expanding and seeking growth channels in the workers’ comp industry, just as we are,” Schultz said.
In addition, there’s an increase in mergers and acquisitions, changes surrounding clinical care, and a shift in customer demands. Exciting industry changes are one piece of the puzzle. And having two health care insurance industry veterans with experience navigating these changes is certainly a boon for workers’ comp.
For Cutler, two distinct things attracted him to the industry: the opportunity to have a larger impact on patients — in this case, injured workers — and the chance to make a mark on an evolving industry.
“My 28 years in health care emphasized the importance of putting patients at the center of decisions, providing support when they are most fragile,” Cutler added. “I take seriously the idea that we must deliver for people in a difficult, compromised spot without adding additional burdens to their lives.”
Cutler continued, “Given workers’ comp is a much more flexible platform [than group health], I see some very interesting opportunities for real transformation, rather than the mere linear progression I’m used to in the group health and provider space.”
Expertise in Action
Steve Schultz, Chief Growth Officer, One Call
Switching industries was just step one for Cutler and Schultz. Bringing their expertise to life in the workers’ comp space quickly followed.
“From diagnostics and physical therapy to home health, all of One Call’s ancillary health care services are good offerings in their own right,” said Schultz. “But we have an even greater impact when we create a comprehensive solution. Instead of approaching clients or prospective clients with isolated solutions, our full spectrum of ancillary services enables us to create a customized, holistic offering for our clients and injured workers — or, as it’s referred to in group health, ‘whole-person care,’ ” Schultz explained.
“My goal is to instill this mindset in my team and work within the organization to develop strategies that position us as partners who develop multifaceted solutions. I believe this approach can lead to even better outcomes,” said Schultz.
While Schultz is working with clients to create the right solutions, Cutler is on the other end, building provider relationships, learning how One Call can make provider interactions more seamless, and working to identify areas for further potential growth.
“I’ve been visiting providers and care delivery sites so that I can credibly represent to our clients why our provider network is best-in-class. It is the critical foundation of our business — enabling us to deliver on our value proposition to our clients — and we need to be able to articulate that in a compelling way,” Cutler said.
Forging Ahead Together
In their roles as chief strategy & network officer and chief growth officer, Cutler and Schultz oversee critical aspects of One Call. They are growing the business, prioritizing bonds with clients old and new, and consistently looking for ways to strengthen the provider network.
“Steve and his team serve as the voice of our clients. It’s crucial the rest of the enterprise — and my organization in particular — understands that Steve and his team are critical internal constituents. We must listen to their needs and try to find appropriate solutions to address their challenges,” Cutler said.
Together, Cutler and Schultz are forging ahead, utilizing their health care knowledge to bolster the workers’ compensation solutions offered through One Call. With one overseeing the quality of the provider network and the other working closely to create appropriate solutions for clients, Cutler and Schultz are positioning One Call for even greater success in the future.
“One Call is unique in the marketplace, given our comprehensive solution set and how we engage with our clients,” said Schultz. “My goal is to continue evolving our offerings to deliver even greater value and to highlight the distinctive advantages we provide.”
To learn more, visit: https://onecallcm.com/.
This article was produced by the R&I Brand Studio, a unit of the advertising department of Risk & Insurance, in collaboration with One Call. The editorial staff of Risk & Insurance had no role in its preparation.
