Q: What is RateFast Express?
A: RateFast Express is a simple system used by medical providers to create fast, accurate and consistent impairment reports for insurance carriers, patients, and other workers’ compensation stakeholders.
Q: How does it work?
A: When your patient is ready for an impairment rating, the clinic’s staff sends the relevant information to RateFast. Submitting the information is a two-step process: first, the clinic’s staff enters the patient’s basic demographics into a secure online form. Next, the staff faxes the patient’s most recent visit note to RateFast. After 3 to 5 business days, you receive an impairment report complete with the patient’s whole person impairment rating, apportionment, future care and recommended work status. All ratings are meticulously researched, calculated and footnoted to assure accuracy.
Q: How do I get the report once it’s completed?
A: Designated members of your staff will receive an email notification when the report is complete. You can then login to RateFast’s secure online portal to download the report.
Q: What do I do with the completed report?
A: After you have downloaded the impairment report from RateFast, you (the provider) review the impairment rating and other findings. You can adjust the report based on your medical opinion, or go with RateFast findings. Once the report is signed, it’s ready to be sent to the insurance carrier.
Q: How accurate are RateFast Express impairment ratings?
A: RateFast Express impairment reports are among the most accurate and rigorous in the industry. When generating your patient’s impairment rating, RateFast Express analyzes all relevant parts of your patient’s chart using proprietary algorithms with direct QME oversight to ensure consistency, objectivity, and reproducibility.
Q: Will the insurance carrier accept RateFast Express reports?
A: RateFast Express reports are impairment ratings created on the basis of the medical provider’s report of signs and symptoms. Where possible, the AMA Guides are directly applied to the content of the report. In other areas, where the AMA Guides are vague or less defined, proprietary weight averaged values are used to prepare the data prior to application of the values. This approach to impairment rating is historically well accepted by carriers who value accurate and objective reports. If the carrier has questions, we are always happy to assist you in responding to clarifying the conclusions of the report.
Q: What do I do if the insurance carrier doesn’t like the RateFast Express impairment report?
A: Insurance carriers can object to impairment ratings for hundreds of reasons. In the rare event that the insurance carrier objects to a report, the customer can provide a copy of the insurance letter to RateFast Express to analyze the issue. We will evaluate the carrier’s objection and draft a response letter free of charge. This usually takes 1-3 days.
Q: How much does RateFast Express cost?
A: We charge on a per-case basis. Please contact us for more information.
Q: How are RateFast Express reports billed?
A: In California, RateFast Express reports are billed using the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS). The final report uses the billing code WC004 and is based on page count. The value of a typical 7 page impairment report is around $189.
Q: What degree of training is required?
A: Training your staff takes less that 15 minutes and can easily be done online. If your staff can check a few boxes on our customized fax cover sheet, fax a few pages from the patient’s chart, and submit an online demographics form, then they are ready to start using RateFast Express.
Q: How do I get started?
A: Go to www.RateFastExpress.com to learn more. Contact us at info@rate-fast.com or call (707) 706-0062 to speak directly with a sales representative.
Q: Will RateFast Express work in my state?
A: RateFast Express works in any states that use the AMA Guides 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th edition. For states that use a customized administrative ruleset for workers’ compensation impairment rating, please contact us. To see what administrative ruleset is used by your state, click here.