News Releases
Networks By Design announces access to our National PPO Network
Tracy, CA – September 17, 2024Networks By Design, a California based customized PPO and MPN network, has announced access to our National PPO network delivering a best-in-class provider network service program. According to Kevin Conley, Principal of Workers’ Compensation and Group Health Services, “Networks By Design is excited to offer our extensive experience in providing customized provider networks and services to national clients. Since 2010 we have been a recognized expert in providing client custom networks, which provides the best savings to each client based on geographic and plan design needs”.
Networks By Design’s National PPO, provides clients with a client driven custom network, and a client driven QA program. Through this service, clients have more provider choices, exceptional customer service, and reduced administrative costs. With over 2.1 million providers throughout the United States, we can meet client’s needs. NBD can configure networks by state, zip and TIN and is also determined by best rate, number of appeals and customer relations and management teams.
Kimberly Riddle, Principal of Provider Networks at Networks by Design, regarding the newly announced service, added, “NBD is excited to be working with national PPOs to offer additional opportunities to our clients in achieving quality services at substantial savings”.
About Networks By Design
Networks by Design allows clients to create custom PPOs for workers’ compensation, group health and auto liability to fit specific needs. Their client-customized provider networks and California MPN solutions deliver significant savings for clients. Exclusive provider contracts with top providers deliver the most effective treatment resulting in the best outcomes and maximum cost containment. Networks by Design’s provider contracts deliver results to clients by using the most current proprietary medical outcomes data and not large commodity network outdated information. Our expertise, exclusive provider contracts based on specialized data management and network technology, results in highly effective medical treatment, faster recovery and maximized cost management. For more information, please visit www.netbyd.com.
NETWORKS BY DESIGN DELIVERS SOLUTION FOR EXCESSIVE OPIATE USE TO CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION & GROUP HEALTH CARE CLIENTS
Tracy, California – April 8, 2015
Workers’ Compensation and Group Health Care industry studies continue to identify that when physicians dispense or prescribe inappropriate or excessive pain medication, there can be a negative outcome. Specifically the result can be higher costs, potential patient addiction and longer disability and recovery durations.
The most recent of these studies was published by the prestigious workers’ compensation “Think Tank” the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The study focused on the relationship between pharmacy costs and disability durations when medications were dispensed directly from physicians’ offices rather than through pharmacies.
Furthermore Workers’ Compensation and Group Health employers and payors are as concerned about inappropriate or excessive medication being prescribed by the treating physician through a pharmacy.
Thomas McCauley, principal at Networks By Design and a previous member of the WCRI’s Board of Directors commented, “When WCRI talks the industry should listen.” Furthermore McCauley added, “This study is especially important in that it also demonstrated recent attempts to curtail this practice in California through legislation and rules and regulations were not successful.”
Mr. McCauley continued, “As so often happens with rules and regulations, abusers simply find ways around the regulations. This does not happen with Networks By Design’s contracted providers. Our provider partners follow “Best Practices” terms and conditions in Networks By Design’s provider agreements.”
Of equal importance, Networks By Design’s contracted providers do not feel that their provider agreements contain “Best Practices” requirements that are burdensome to members. In fact, Kimberly Riddle, Networks By Design principal and oversees network development said, “The best providers follow the best practices, and view signing the Networks By Design’s provider agreement as no more than showing what sets them apart from other physicians.”
About Networks By Design
Networks By Design is the leading California client-customized MPN/EPO network company that provides the network management expertise and current treatment data designed to deliver maximized outcomes and cost containment to both Group Health and Workers' Compensation medical networks. Networks By Design provides specifically client- tailored networks designed to meet the needs of each individual employer client.
Networks By Design is a California Corporation. It is an independently-owned EPO network domiciled in California. The corporate office is located in the Central Valley of California at 231 W. Tenth St Tracy, CA 95376. Visit us at www.netbyd.com.
For Immediate Release: April 1, 2014
Republic Indemnity Selects Networks By Design for New California MPN
Following a strategic plan to more effectively combat ever increasing workers’ compensation medical expense, including drugs and the current California lien crisis, Republic Indemnity Company of America has contracted with Networks By Design, a California Corporation for its unique client-customized California Medical Provider Network or MPN.
Networks By Design’s custom MPN offers the additional benefit of easier access to physicians delivering appropriate treatment for injured workers. Networks By Design’s MPN members are readily willing and able to accept new workers’ compensation patients with specific expertise in industrial medicine.
“We have become painfully aware that it could take the state and its various agencies a lengthy period of time to address increasing medical costs, the current lien debacle, opioid crisis and the other drug expense issues that negatively impact the entire system,” said Dave Mitchell, Senior VP of Claims at Republic. Mr. Mitchell added, “Networks By Design’s unique provider contract provisions substantially contain the explosion of these expenses.”
Kimberly Riddle, Network Development Principal at Networks By Design acknowledges the sophisticated approach used by Republic Indemnity and said. “This insurer is clearly on the cutting edge, realizing the benefits of a customized focused network, accurate demographic data and that major costs that can be quickly contained with effective workers’ compensation focused provider agreements.”
Mitchell added, “Recent DWC hearings underscored the frustration of many injured workers in finding an appropriate treating physician within a California MPN. Networks By Design addresses the problem with a distinct workers’ compensation network, and the directory is kept current.”
Frank Lewis, Marketing and Sales Principal at Networks By Design commented, “Networks by Design is a new California custom MPN, created in response to the requests of payors and providers alike that desire to work with an organization that understands the state, maintains data and provides excellent supporting service.
About Republic Indemnity
Republic Indemnity Company of America was founded in 1945 and is a subsidiary of American Financial Group, Inc. and a member of Great American Insurance Group. American Financial Group is a publicly traded company on the NYSE/NASDAQ under the symbol AFG.
Republic has been rated "A-" (Excellent) or better by A.M. Best for over 30 years. Headquartered in Encino, California, the company specializes in workers' compensation insurance throughout the western United States. California offices are located in Encino, San Francisco, and San Diego. Other state operations are in Portland, Oregon; Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Our many years of diversified workers' compensation specialization makes Republic Indemnity the ultimate choice for employee injury coverage needs.
About Networks By Design
Networks By Design is the leading California client-customized MPN/EPO network company that provides the network management expertise and current treatment data designed to deliver maximized outcomes and cost containment to both Group Health and Workers' Compensation medical networks. Networks By Design provides specifically client- tailored networks designed to meet the needs of each individual employer client.
Networks By Design is a California Corporation. It is an independently-owned EPO network domiciled in California. The corporate office is located in the Central Valley of California at 231 W. Tenth St Tracy, CA 95376. Visit us at www.netbyd.com.
Industry Updates
WCIRB WIRE - Governing Committee Votes for Mid-Year Filing - April 1, 2015
Citing lower medical loss development, as well as indemnity and medical severities that continue to emerge below expectations, the insurer and public members of the WCIRB Governing Committee voted today to authorize the WCIRB to submit a mid-year pure premium rate filing to the California Department of Insurance (CDI). The filing will propose a July 1, 2015 advisory pure premium rate of $2.46 per $100 of payroll which is 5% lower than the corresponding industry average filed pure premium rate of $2.74.
The Governing Committee’s decision was based on the WCIRB Actuarial Committee analysis of insurer loss and loss adjustment experience as of December 31, 2014, which was reviewed at public meetings of the Actuarial Committee held on March 18,2015 and March 30, 2015.
MPN Bulletin
As Networks By Design has been anticipating and advising our customers for some time, the Office of Administrative Law approved the proposed Medical Provider Network (MPN) rules and regulations on August 27, 2014
Welcome to the Brave New World of the MPN!
Networks By Design has been prepared for this new and demanding environment. We are looking forward to working with our customers to take full advantage of the opportunities the new MPN world has to offer.
To contact Networks By Design regarding our custom MPN Network capabilities or other related questions please call (209) 229-8537 or use the Contact Us form.
California Healthcare Industry Facts
- California Group Health costs range from $75 billion to $100 billion annually.
- All state and national studies show no indication that the continuous rise in healthcare costs will diminish.
- Workers’ Compensation costs range from $5 billion to $15 billion annually. Similar to Group Health, costs continue to escalate. This increase is likely to be greater in California to the marked reduction in the effectiveness of the 2006 cost containment reforms reflected in the recent pure premium increases recommended by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB).
