Workers' Compensation Reform in Montana

Workers’ Compensation Reform in Montana. What has been called the most sweeping workers’ compensation reform in the US in decades has passed through the Montana legislature and becomes law. Montana has the distinction of being the most expensive premium state for workers’ compensation in the United States, and hold the second position for the most WC oriented incidents per 100 FTEs in the US. Costs to insured and self-insured employers has been burdensome, restricting business growth and new hiring for nearly a decade. As a result of HB-334, NCCI was asked to price the reforms, and has predicted a first year savings in loss costs of 25% – 30%. MCSi / IIC provides WC TPA claims services primarily for self-insured organizations, our focus is on the impact of legislation for these fine organizations. Our evaluation of the potential savings following passage of HB-334 is significantly less than the figures put out by NCCI. Time of course will tell the real story. But for advanced self-insured organizations, many who already have highly refined medical treatment intervention and Stay At Work / Return To Work programs, the topics ‘fixed’ by the legislation will likely not lead to significant savings. The predominant savings will be seen for the business produced by Plan Two and Plan Three insurance companies. The full text of the bill as passed can be read by clicking here…