The Congress’ SuperCommittee to reduce the federal budget deficit is not looking like it will reach concensus, leading to possible implementation of a number of ‘penalties’, one of which is a 27% + reduction in physician reimbursement rates for medical care provided under Medicare and Medicaid.  One industry observer predicts significant cost shifting to private pay insurance and workers’ compensation.  Read Paduda here…

2011 Roche Jaune Awards-From Left, James A Marsh, Michael J Marsh, Judith Hosford and Barbara K Marsh

Midland Claims Service, Inc and Industrial Injury Claims has been awarded the Customer Service Excellence Award from the Billings Chamber of Commerce/CVB for the year 2011.  Read the Chamber’s announcement. The management and staff of the company is thrilled and humbled by the award.  For a company that specializes in the administration and handling of claims, in a city that features national customer service call centers in the financial, cable television and other business sectors along with hundreds of other businesses historically associated with customer service, this is one of the first times ever that a claims company has been blessed with such a cherished award.  This is another validation that the company’s implementation of “Beyond Best Practices” works…not only for the self-insured organizations and insurance companies for whom we work, but also for the injured workers and their families.  Thanks to the Chamber and the Roche Jaune committee for this award and recognition.

Montana, in a recent study conducted by the Montana Dept of Labor and Industry, remains nearly twice the rate of WC incidents as the US.  The 2010 numbers of 5.0 / 100 workers has fallen slightly from 5.3 / 100. However, when compared to the falling national average of 3.6 / 100, it is no wonder that Montana remains the highest premium WC insurance rate jurisdiction in the US.  The work of WorkSafeMT is just beginning, and is more important now than ever. Read more here about the study… | Learn more about WorkSafeMT here…