Better outcomes for injured workers. Responsible alternatives for Texas employers.
The Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC) brings together employers, administrators, insurers, and advisors committed to evidence-based injury benefit programs.
WHO IS ARAWC
The Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC) is dedicated to better medical outcomes and improved benefits for injured workers and cost savings for employers. ARAWC is comprised of leading national, regional and state employers, third party administrators, insurers, brokers, law firms and other workers' compensation experts dedicated to delivering improved outcomes for injured employees and their families.
OUR MISSION
As its top strategic objective, ARAWC's mission includes protecting and promoting the Texas injury benefit program and its distinct, proven advantages. Consequently, the association actively pursues:
- Expanding and improving understanding of the advantages of the Texas injury benefit program through educational meetings, information distribution and collaborative, active dialogue with members and industry experts.
- Clarifying the critical differences between responsible Texas employers with a formalized Texas injury benefit program, and an employer who offers no coverage or response plan.
- Working collaboratively with legislators and regulators, like the Texas Department of Insurance and U.S. Department of Labor.
- Promoting new research and building upon prior studies that support the superior statistical performance and employee satisfaction found under the Texas injury benefit program.
- Providing interested parties with documented evidence, research, case studies and testimony that provide compelling proof of the clear-cut advantages and remarkable employee and employer outcomes of the Texas injury benefit program.
ARAWC IS DEDICATED TO BETTER MEDICAL OUTCOMES AND IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR INJURED WORKERS AND COST SAVINGS FOR EMPLOYERS BY:
Providing all employees with immediate response to workplace injury providing medical, disability and survivor benefits under no fault injury benefit plans.
Advancing use of injury benefit plans for response to workplace injuries under U.S. Department of Labor ERISA rules and regulations and other applicable state and federal laws.
Providing education and advocacy through employer involvement educating state policymakers, and providing strategic resources on the positive benefits of an elective employer option for employees and employers.
Using fair and equitable procedures for all dispute resolution. Any benefit dispute is handled under the Department of Labor-required process separate and apart from any other recourse the employee may have. Court or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for tort (negligence) or other employment claims operates separate and apart from the injury benefit plan dispute protocol.
Improving efficiency by providing each employee with pre-injury communications of injury benefit plan documents and benefit claim handling servicing information.
All parties are accountable (employer, employee, medical providers, services providers etc.) to the number one goal of achieving the best medical outcome and returning the employee to full time employment.