Brigham and Associates and Insurance Recovery Group Launch Impairment Resources, a Joint Venture to Address Impairment Ratings

Expert firms join forces to introduce new workers’ compensation cost containment tools

San Diego, California - January 22, 2009 - Brigham and Associates Inc. and Insurance Recovery Group, Inc. (IRG) announce the formation of Impairment Resources, LLC (www.impairment.com) a new joint venture established to assure accurate and reliable impairment ratings. Impairment Resources will combine the expertise and resources of national leaders in the areas of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, workers’ compensation cost containment, and recovery services. It will offer a proprietary suite of new cost containment services to address monetary payouts for impairment, key cost drivers in workers’ compensation cases.  Educational resources, training, certification and strategies to produce quality ratings will also remain a focus.

Christopher R. Brigham, MD, founder of Brigham and Associates, Inc. explains: "Studies have conclusively demonstrated that the majority of impairment ratings are incorrect, and the average incorrect rating is nearly three times higher than is appropriate. Our goal is to drive fair, reliable impairment evaluations, and to demonstrate integrity, service and excellence." David Jollin, President and CEO of IRG adds: "Impairment Resources offers a significant opportunity to address long term indemnity costs, which now represent over 20 billion dollars of workers' compensation benefit expenditures. Our process-engineered cost containment systems married with the deep expertise that Brigham and Associates holds in impairment ratings will bring a strong new resource to the market."

Impairment Resources, LLC is unique in its professional and technological abilities, offering a suite of services ranging from ImpairmentCheck™ (www.impairmentcheck.com) a new online claims resource to be used by adjusters, lawyers and risk managers to measure or assess ratings to ImpairmentExpert,™ expert physician reviews.  These services are complimented by Internet-based educational resources, tools for all Editions of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, and expert consultation that can also be effectively used by doctors to achieve accurate ratings.

Christopher Brigham will serve as Chairman of Impairment Resources, LLC.  Directors include W. Frederick Uehlein, attorney, founder and chairman of IRG; David Jollin, President and CEO of IRG; and Craig Uejo, MD, MPH, national medical director of Brigham and Associates. 

Impairment Resources, LLC (formerly Brigham and Associates, Inc.) (www.impairment.com) is recognized as the nation's leading resource on impairment evaluation. The founder, Christopher Brigham, MD, is an internationally recognized expert on the AMA Guides and author of nearly two hundred publications on impairment assessment. The firm has offices in California, Maine and Hawaii.

Insurance Recovery Group, Inc. (www.irgfocus.com) is a national leader in workers’ compensation recovery and cost containment systems, having recovered more than $900 million on behalf of its clients. The firm has offices in Massachusetts, New York, and Georgia.

Impairment Resources, LLC an organization that provides impairment evaluation services, including expert review of ratings, web-based resources, and training.

For further information contact Mindy Brigham, Vice President of Operations, at 619-299-7377 or via email at mbrigham@impairment.com.