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Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) recently received the 2003 Best Workers’ Compensation and Disability Program award, which recognized the authority for reconfiguring its workers’ compensation program during the past decade.

SEPTA has cut program costs $13 million since 1994, when compensation expenses skyrocketed to $25.8 million.

The authority also reorganized the program by monitoring concerns from employees regarding job safety and establishing an in-house program that places employees in temporary job positions while they recover from injuries.

In 1999, SEPTA partnered with Comp Services Inc., which acts as a third-party administrator. Comp Services now provides the authority with medical management and claims administration, and implements a capital medical program. SEPTA pays an annual fee that covers all workers’ compensation medical care.

Since 1999, workers’ compensation costs have been more than $7 million less than budget projections. In 2003, program costs were reduced to $12.8 million.