Frequently Asked Questions
Medical canvassing is a process that focuses on specific geographic areas to identify when and where a claimant may have received medical treatment. This process helps uncover undisclosed or undocumented treatments, verify the existence of pre-existing conditions, and clarify the claimant’s prior medical history and timeline of care.
Yes, medical canvassing is HIPAA-compliant. While CDI, the company conducting the canvassing, is not considered a Covered Entity or a Business Associate under HIPAA—because it works on behalf of claims teams who do not fall under those categories—it still adheres to privacy best practices. CDI uses secure processes and advanced technology to ensure that its reporting and data handling remain compliant with HIPAA’s privacy and security standards.
Medical canvassing offers several key benefits. It uncovers previously undisclosed treatments, helps verify or challenge injured person-provided medical histories, and helps identify potential pre-existing conditions or potential patterns of drug-seeking behavior. This process supports more accurate claim evaluations, reduces reliance on time-consuming and costly medical record requests, and provides claims professionals with actionable, reliable data to make informed decisions. Additionally, it streamlines the overall claims process by delivering insights within just a few days.
The impact of medical canvassing is significant in terms of improving the accuracy and efficiency of reviewing claims related data. By uncovering hidden treatments, pre-existing conditions, and relevant medical history, it helps ensure that all necessary information is available to evaluate the claim thoroughly. This leads to enhanced data integrity, faster claims processing, and more strategic decision-making, which ultimately reduces the time and money spent on handling claims.
Medical canvassing is a process that focuses on specific geographic areas to identify when and where a claimant may have received medical treatment. This process helps uncover undisclosed or undocumented treatments, verify the existence of pre-existing conditions, and clarify the claimant’s prior medical history and timeline of care.
Medical canvassing directly addresses many of the key challenges associated with Property & Casualty (P&C) and Workers’ Compensation claims. These challenges include escalating medical costs, difficulty accessing complete treatment histories, and the risk of claimants concealing prior injuries or medical conditions. By uncovering this critical information, canvassing helps insurers identify potentially fraudulent claims, clarify the origin and extent of injuries, and ensure that the claim being processed is valid. This results in more accurate assessments, improved claims handling, and ultimately, better outcomes for both insurers and employers.