Management Team
Kay R. Estes
Kay is the founder, President and CEO of Innovative Claims Strategies.
After a long career spanning over 20 years in the auto insurance industry for two major carriers, Allstate and CSC, Inc. (handling catastrophic PIP claims for the JUA and MTF for the State), Kay was recruited, in June 1986, by a partner in Options, an entrepreneurial firm specializing in the management of the cost and care resulting from work-related injuries, automobile accidents and general health-related events that cause absence from the workplace.
Kay developed, sold and implemented Options’ entire New Jersey book of business and continued the development of the company’s most comprehensive program established to support New Jersey carriers in partnership with National Healthcare Resources’ largest auto-industry related client. Kay went on to expand similar programs for managing medical claims on behalf of payers of automobile and workers’ compensation claims across the country, opening similar markets in Colorado, Michigan, Florida and New York.
Recognized as the creator of successful startup early intervention/precertification/utilization review models to support the Property/Casualty marketplace, Kay has worked with many state legislators across the country to modify existing regulations and statutes to allow for the introduction of auto “managed care” and the modification of existing workers’ compensation “managed care” protocols, as well as, helped to create and support provider e-billing initiatives in Texas, New Jersey and New York.
Followed by the suggestion of private investors and industry colleagues, Kay founded Innovative Claims Strategies in 2006 to provide integrated services to the Property and Casualty markets.
Carlos M. Navarro
Carlos is the Chief Operating Officer for Innovative Claims strategies responsible for providing company-wide leadership, strategy, operations and management, while working collaboratively with the President and CEO to continually refine and implement strategic growth plans and metrics to expand and position ICS as a leader in providing innovative and boutique medical cost containment services on a national scale.
Carlos has an exceptional history of leadership positions in the health care medical cost containment field with distinctive experience in occupational health and rehabilitation, managed care, workers’ compensation, liability and integrated delivery systems for over 20 years. With an impressive track record in business development and implementation, Carlos has developed, managed and grown several successful medical cost containment organizations though his skills in management and product development, combined with strategic and operational leadership.
Carlos started his career with CareSys in 1991. He was the architect of today’s industry leading case management software application, WebOPUS. He was instrumental in the growth and success of CareSys that led to the acquisition of CareSys by Continuum Healthcare in 1999.
Prior to joining ICS, Carlos served as Vice President of MCMC’s Integrated Services Division following MCMC’s acquisition of CareSys in 2004 from Continuum Healthcare. In this capacity, he was responsible for the operational and financial oversight of all operating departments that comprised the Integrated Services Division as well as maintaining and enhancing the industry leading case management software he helped develop, WebOPUS.
John B. Buckman
John is outside General Counsel to Innovative Claims Strategies, and is responsible for the oversight of legal compliance and corporate governance.
John has been a corporate attorney for more than 20 years, having started his career at Day Pitney and Winston & Strawn before founding his own firm in 2004. In that time and since, he has obtained valuable experience in M&A, compliance, commercial contracts, finance, and intellectual property.
John is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and Creighton University School of Law, is ACAMS certified, and is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and New York. He has advised large and small businesses and has been working with ICS for more than 10 years.