What is the primary purpose of a claims audit?

The primary purpose of a claims audit is to assess the claims handling process for efficiency. This involves reviewing the procedures and practices used in processing claims to ensure that they are effective, consistent, and in compliance with relevant regulations and standards. By evaluating how claims are managed, organizations can identify areas where improvements can be made, which can lead to faster claim resolution, reduced costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction. Efficiency in the claims handling process is vital for maintaining operational effectiveness and ensuring that the insurer can meet its obligations to policyholders promptly.

The other options, while they may seem relevant in certain contexts, do not capture the main focus of a claims audit as effectively as assessing the overall efficiency of the claims handling process. Investigating fraudulent claims is certainly an important aspect of claims management, but it is typically part of a broader examination rather than the central goal of an audit. Recruiting new claims handlers is related to workforce management and does not pertain to the purpose of auditing existing claims processes. Analyzing customer service performance is valuable for understanding customer interactions but is not the primary aim of a claims audit either, which is more focused on the internal processes related to claim handling.