Matrix Absence Management Names Bert Stone VP, Clinical Services

PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwired - June 16, 2015) - Matrix Absence Management (Matrix) has named Bert Stone Vice President, Clinical Services, reporting to Matrix Vice President/Claims Paul Dubé.

In his new role, Mr. Stone is responsible for strategic oversight and operation of Matrix's clinical model, programs, services and clinical operations. An industry veteran with more than 25 years clinical experience in the return to work, vocational rehabilitation and disability markets, he will ensure established clinical, quality and other enterprise level goals are attained and maintained. He will also manage all clinical partnerships.

Most recently with Physician Disability Services, Stone was responsible for PDA's vocational rehabilitation team, forensic vocational support and disability consulting. Prior to that he held leadership roles in clinical, vocational and disability claims management for organizations like Prudential and Unum.

Stone resides in the Phoenix, AZ area. He earned his Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida.

"Bert knows the disability market as well as anyone and knows Matrix very well," Dubé said. "He brings a level of expertise and perspective that's virtually unique. With all that's going on in the marketplace -- health care reform, the impact of technology on health care delivery and information sharing -- and everything we're pioneering at Matrix, we need strong leadership to tie it all together, and Bert delivers."

Based on the premise that employees make up the most costly -- and valuable -- portion of a company's resources, Matrix focuses on reducing the lost productivity suffered when employees miss work for any reason. The flagship service platform, called Absence Solutions®, streamlines benefit delivery, simplifies administration and reduces overall benefit costs for companies nationwide employing more than 2 million men and women.

Matrix integrates workers' compensation, short- and long-term disability, return-to-work services, and personal/family and medical leave programs to help employers realize time, efficiency and productivity gains.

An early technology leader in the absence management space, Matrix was among the first to allow telephonic claim intake for virtually any type of employee absence; pioneered secure online claim intake; and offers the industry's most functionally robust mobile application.

"Matrix has a legacy of leadership in the absence management space," said Ken Cope, president. "With growing complexity in the area of compliance and growing opportunity as a technology enabled enterprise, we have to make sure we continue our laser-focus on the client and the claimant. That begins with a top-tier medical management model that's flawlessly executed. And that," he said, "is why we are excited to have Bert Stone join our leadership team in this role."

Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Matrix has service locations nationwide, including claims hubs in San Jose, California; Phoenix; Hawthorne, NY; Austin, TX; and Portland, OR. Matrix Absence Management is also the large case claims service platform for sister company Reliance Standard Life Insurance, jointly delivering integrated disability, employee leave and return to work services with employee benefits insurance coverage.

Matrix and Reliance Standard are members of the Tokio Marine Group. Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc., the ultimate holding company of the Tokio Marine Group, operates in the property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and life insurance sectors globally. The Group's main operating subsidiary, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (TMNF), was founded in 1879 and is the oldest and leading property and casualty insurer in Japan.

For more information, visit www.matrixcos.com or call (800) 980-1006.

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