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knowledge of those expectations. There was no national standard in place, no certification
program for contractors, and no training for contractors specific to workers compensation.

In an effort to fill the void and improve outcomes for all involved in the home modification process,
I authored the CHAMP certification program. CHAMP is an acronym that stands for Certified

Home Assessment and Modification Professional. CHAMP was written specifically for the
contractors and accessibility specialists wanting to complete home modifications in the workers’
compensation industry. Attendees complete a three-day course with topics including history of

the industry, roles and relationships, medical necessity, common diagnosis and conditions,
assessments, estimating, cost containment, documentation, and field practice guidelines for a
successful outcome. Following the course, the attendee takes an exam. With the course

completed, and successful results on the exam, the contractor submits an application that
includes license and insurance information, territory/coverage information, references, and
specialty certifications.

While CHAMP cannot guarantee a better outcome on a specific project, it can guarantee that a
contractor or accessibility specialist has invested the time, energy, and resources to better

understand the industry, the carrier and the injured worker. It takes some of the challenge away
from finding a qualified contractor and helps establish a national standard.

Of course, even the best contractor is disadvantaged unless the approved scope of work is

accurate. The survey indicates that the second biggest challenge is arriving at an appropriate
scope of work. At the end of the day, the accurate scope of work is the foundation upon which the

modification process is built. Get the scope right, and you have a much better chance of the rest
falling into place. Thoughtful question: How to you define “accurate” scope? How does your
company arrive at the agreed scope?

For more information about CHAMP, or finding a CHAMP certified accessibility specialist or

contractor in your area, please call (877) 261-1766.

Continued success in 2021!

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