Comcare National Conference

Effective Partnerships Today and Tomorrow

Dr Jan WhiteChief Executive

Accident Compensation Corporation (NZ)

October 2007

Scheme Comparison

• ACC also no-fault but covers the whole population

• Claims volumes differ

• ACC is the sole insurer

• Role of the employer differs

• Case management done internally

• Allows self-insurance for some larger businesses

Scheme Comparison

• Weekly compensation up to 80%

• Lump sums for permanent impairment

• Stress not included if not caused by injury

• ACC working towards being fully funded

• ACC has no regulatory function in workplace health

and safety

Partnership Approach

• Imperative for effective partnerships compelling

• Funding demands partnership approach

• Injury prevention involves everyone

• Service delivery relies on health sector

• Workplace IP and Return-to-Work mandate needs

positive employer relationships

Programmes

• Safer Industries Programme - injuries down 8.3% last year

• Partnership Programme – self insurance for bigger firms

• Workplace Safety Management Practices – discount for

good safety performance

• Workplace Safety Discounts – for smaller businesses

• Workplace Safety Evaluations – targets poor performers

A Sense of Scale

• 1.8 million new claims last year (4 million

population)

• 73,000 new weekly compensation claims

• 50% returned to work in 28 days

• 80% of claims received electronically and 98%

registered within 24 hours

Focus on the Individual

• Individual rehabilitation plans

• Occupational and medical assessments

• Vocational independence assessment

• Transitional assistance

Targets

• Sustainable return to work

• 67% back to work in 3 months

• 89.5% back to work in nine months

Some Current Initiatives

• New Rehabilitation Framework

• New providers for those with spinal injuries

• NIDMAR

• Pain Management

• Stay at Work trial