Employers

RAS recommends reporting all injuries immediately. As part of the claim investigation process, our claims examiners will complete a thorough investigation to gather the information necessary to determine claim compensability. By reporting all injuries, however small, as soon as possible, you help ensure that a minor injury doesn’t turn into a major headache.

You should report all claims within 24 hours of receipt of notification of an injury.

• Online through the RAS portal (Preferred Method)
• Call 877.585.1117
• Email the completed First Report of Injury form to FirstReports@rascompanies.com
• Fax the completed First Report of Injury form to 605.361.4121

Please have these items available prior to reporting:

• Injured Worker’s DOB
• Injured Worker’s SSN
• Injured Worker’s cell phone
• Any treatment received or expected
• Witness information
• Any concerns you would like addressed in the investigation

RAS is committed to making life simpler, more convenient, and more efficient for our customers with the use of the latest technology. We understand the desire to minimize contact for incident only or minor treatment claims. Letters are sent with directions to call 800.732.1486 x 5566 or e-mail the RAS Claims Care Center at claimscarecenter@rascompanies.com with any questions or to report lost time or the need to seek additional medical treatment.

As a result of the sophisticated rules that we have set up to monitor these claims, we are able to close these claims after they are assigned. While the claims are quickly closed, we want to assure you that our Claims Care Center is monitoring to ensure all bills are promptly paid and to connect you with an experienced representative if the need arises.

This process allows us to increase service levels and guarantee an immediate response to any inquiries from providers, insureds, or injured workers.

Research shows that employees recover more quickly on the job. From the start make it clear that you are counting on the injured employee to contribute whatever they can to the company during their recuperation. Look for ways to adjust work temporarily. Some ideas include: (a) having the employee do their regular job, but rearranging the work station, assign someone else to do the tasks that put the most demand on the injured body part, (b) taking more frequent breaks or shortening the work day, (c) a special project, (d) helping out another group or department, (e) work that no one has ever found time to do, (f) refresher training or cross-training. Contact the experts at RAS to help.

The way you respond to this injured or ill employee may make them eager to get back to work or make them decide to stall as long as possible–or even to contact a lawyer immediately. Respond to the employee the same way you would want someone to respond to you if you were feeling vulnerable–kindly, helpfully, and firmly. Convey empathy and concern on behalf of your company. Your employee may remember it forever and tell others what you did. Make those stories good ones! Why not rally around this person the same way you do when co-workers have a car accident, surgery, or trauma in the family? Actions that speak louder than words include: (a) sending a get well card signed by co-workers and the boss, (b) having someone offer help with things that are hard for the injured worker to do now, such as pick up the kids at childcare, drive to work, mow the lawn or shovel the sidewalk. The company’s kindness will naturally make them feel like they want to repay you–by coming back to work.