When it comes to workers’ compensation claims administration, performance is not measured by promises. It is measured by results. One of the clearest, most objective ways to evaluate a Third-Party Administrator is through audits, and one of the most important audits conducted by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).

The DWC audits all adjusting locations every five years, and the audit measures what we do at our core- provide timely and accurate benefits to injured employees. These audits reflect sustained operational discipline, not short-term course correction.

The Benchmark: What the DWC Expects

For the 2025 Profile Audit Review, the DWC established a compliance performance standard of 1.57376 or less. Scores below this threshold indicate performance that meets or exceeds state expectations. The lower the score, the stronger the compliance result.

Athens Administrators has consistently performed well below this benchmark, outperforming both industry standards and state averages.

Two Decades of Strong Results

Since our founding in 1976, Athens has prioritized accuracy, consistency, and accountability in claims administration, and we have never had to do a Full Compliance audit, meaning we failed to pass at the initial level. That long-term commitment is evident in our audit history over the past 20 years.

Across multiple offices and audit cycles, Athens’ scores have routinely come in far below the California state standard:

  • 2005 – 0.69631 (Concord)
  • 2010 – 1.39369 (Concord)
  • 2015 – 0.90278 (Sacramento)
  • 2015 – 0.90601 (Concord)
  • 2017 – 0.89923 (Orange)
  • 2018 – 0.37697 (San Diego)
  • 2020 – 0.81277 (Concord)
  • 2024 – 0.82992 (San Diego)
  • 2024 – 0.32596 (Agoura)
  • 2025 – 0.57168 (Orange)
  • 2025 – 0.54348 (Concord)

Every one of these results is well below the current DWC performance standard.

Notably, Athens has maintained these strong audit results even as the organization has grown. Increased employee counts and expanded operations have not diluted performance, underscoring that these outcomes are driven by consistent processes, not scale-dependent shortcuts.

Recent Results That Deserve Attention

The most recent audits are especially telling. In a period when several TPAs did not meet DWC expectations, Athens delivered multiple strong results across different offices, including three separate scores in 2024 and 2025 under 0.60, and one as low as 0.32596.

Multiple audits in a short time frame, across different locations, reinforce that these outcomes are not isolated. They reflect consistent processes and expectations applied across the organization.

How Athens Achieves Consistently Strong Audit Outcomes

Strong audit results are not achieved through last-minute preparation. At Athens, they are the result of how claims are handled every day.

Key contributors include:

  • Experienced, stable claims teams with deep institutional knowledge
  • Clear internal quality controls focused on accuracy and timeliness
  • Ongoing training aligned with current DWC regulations
  • Standardized workflows that support compliance without sacrificing service
  • Early identification and correction of potential issues

Because DWC audits are periodic rather than annual, this consistency matters. It ensures readiness at any time and reinforces sound claims handling practices across every file.

Transparency You Can Verify

DWC audit results are publicly available, and we encourage clients and prospective partners to review them directly. Athens’ performance is independently validated through the state’s audit process.

A link to the publicly available DWC audit results and scoring methodology is available on the Division of Workers’ Compensation website.

A Track Record Built Over Time

Athens’ audit history tells a clear story. Over decades, across offices, and through changing regulatory environments, we have consistently outperformed state standards and industry averages.

It is not about chasing a score. It is about disciplined claims practices, experienced teams, and accountability that show up in the results, year after year, when it matters most.