NABR Releases Early Results from VRS Procedures & Practices Survey

May 13, 2015
National AutoBody Research (NABR) published its initial results and findings from its recent nationwide launch of the VRS Procedures & Practices Survey.

National AutoBody Research (NABR) published its initial results and findings from its recent nationwide launch of the VRS Procedures & Practices Survey.

Read the full report entitled, "Get Paid For The Work You Do," on the NABR website. Introduced in early April 2015, the research sought to measure how often shops got paid for several non-included procedures and how well insurers paid for those.

"For some time, we've heard stories from shops about performing work but not getting paid for it," said Sam Valenzuela, President of NABR. "This research helps put real data and documentation around those stories, which we find to be largely true."

"Soon, with this data and documentation built into the Variable Rate System, the VRS will help pull back the curtain on what is really happening in the industry--how shops bill for procedures and which insurers pay for what.  It will help level the playing field for all shops across the country, enabling them to get paid for the work they do."

Among other findings, when it comes to procedures, the research revealed several opportunities for improvement for both shops and insurers.

For shops, opportunities for improvement include fundamentally changing their belief system from "I can't get paid for that" to "Yes, I can and will get paid for the work I do"; writing more of the work they perform on the estimate; utilizing more documentation to get paid; and the biggest opportunity of improved profits.  Even when they don't get paid for it, many shops perform non-included procedures anyway and incur the cost. Now, by getting paid, that money will go straight to the bottom line.

Insurers do in fact pay some shops for non-included procedures, yet they do so inconsistently, paying one shop for a procedure but not paying another shop for the same work, even if both shops are in the same market.  The insurers' major opportunity for improvement is in paying shops for work that is truly performed and paying shops more consistently.

For shops who have not yet completed the survey, the VRS Procedures & Practices Survey remains available online at the NABR website at www.nationalautobodyresearch.com/procedures-survey.html

NABR is currently gathering documentation from shops nationwide of supporting documentation of paid non-included procedures, which will further enable shops to consistently charge and collect for the work they perform.  Documents may include but are not limited to estimates, paid invoices, checks, as well as claim numbers.  Shops interested in adding their documents to the independent VRS online library can contact NABR via the Company's website.

About National AutoBody Research (NABR)

NABR is an independent research, technology, and consulting company committed to restoring the free market for labor rate pricing and leveling the playing field for payments of non-included procedures in the automobile collision repair industry.

Through its innovative Variable Rate System (VRS) technology, NABR provides collision repair shops the data and tools they need to get paid what they are worth and get paid for the work they do.  Active use of the VRS leads directly to improved shop profitability, ultimately helping to ensure proper consumer care and safety. 

With thousands of rates from shops nationwide, NABR built the industry's first and only independent, third party source of real-time, market-based labor rate data.  With the launch of its new Procedures product, NABR is building the industry's premier searchable, online library of procedures payment data and documentation, making the VRS the new industry standard for nationwide labor rates and procedures payment information.

To subscribe to the Variable Rate System, please visit NationalAutoBodyResearch.com and sign up online.

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