Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 1353: Revise workers' compensation laws relating to travel and reimbursement

This bill amends Montana's workers' compensation laws to clarify coverage rules for employees traveling for work. It establishes that an employee is covered for injuries sustained while traveling only if the employer provides transportation or reimburses travel costs like gas and lodging, or if the travel is required as part of job duties. The legislation also clarifies that simply receiving reimbursement does not automatically determine coverage status, and it maintains existing restrictions on benefits when alcohol or drug use is the major cause of an accident. Additionally, the bill preserves protections for employees using marijuana for qualifying medical conditions, ensuring they are not denied benefits solely due to such use.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill clarifies workers' compensation coverage for travel, protecting injured employees by establishing clearer eligibility criteria for work-related injuries during travel.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 2254: Revising workers’ compensation laws relating to when the employee is released to return to work

This bill amends Montana's workers' compensation law to clarify when temporary total disability benefits end for injured workers. It requires insurers to terminate these benefits on the specific date a worker is officially released to full duty, even if they have not yet reached maximum medical improvement. The change applies to workers who are cleared to return to their full job responsibilities before their medical treatment is considered complete. Insurance companies must still follow existing requirements for medical evaluations and physician determinations before converting benefits to permanent disability status. The law takes effect immediately upon approval.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill clarifies workers' compensation benefits end when released to work, protecting injured workers' rights to full benefits until officially cleared.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 15, 2025

LC 1805: Revise workers' compensation insurance related to who may receive payments

This bill updates Montana's workers' compensation laws to clarify who can receive payments on behalf of minors and individuals adjudged incompetent. It allows a workers' compensation judge to appoint a benefits administrator to manage these payments and pursue claims for vulnerable claimants. The legislation also establishes a two-year deadline for filing disputes about benefits and clarifies that a judge can appoint an administrator without first going through standard dispute resolution steps. These changes primarily affect employers, insurers, and the workers' compensation department by defining the proper recipients of payments and the process for appointing representatives for those unable to manage their own benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workers' compensation protections for vulnerable claimants by clarifying payment recipients and establishing benefit administrators for minors and incompetent individuals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 4248: Revise workers' compensation laws.

This bill revises Montana's workers' compensation laws to clarify when insurers can require payment without accepting liability and how benefits are handled during disputes. It allows the workers' compensation department to order temporary benefit payments of up to 49 days when an insurer terminates benefits and the worker contests the decision, provided the worker shows they are likely to win the dispute. The bill also permits insurers to pay for medical treatment without admitting fault for the injury and outlines specific situations where workers may lose benefits for refusing to cooperate with medical care or treatment plans. These changes directly affect injured workers, insurance companies, and the state workers' compensation department by modifying how claims are processed and disputes are resolved.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workers' compensation protections by ensuring temporary benefits during disputes and clarifying insurer obligations, directly advancing worker rights and benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 4247: Revise workers' compensation laws relating to evidentiary standards

This bill revises Montana's workers' compensation laws by establishing that injured workers must prove their claims on a "more probable than not" basis and removing special deference given to treating doctors' opinions. It requires that medical testimony be evaluated based on the provider's education, training, experience, and credibility rather than automatically accepting their conclusions. The legislation also limits discovery requests related to independent medical examinations to specific professional qualifications and prohibits inquiries into the examiner's personal finances. Additionally, the bill clarifies rules for independent medical examinations, allowing insurers to request them under certain conditions while ensuring the employee's right to have a physician present during the exam.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill raises evidentiary burden for injured workers, removes deference to treating doctors, and limits discovery, weakening workers' compensation protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 25, 2025

LC 1836: Revising workers' compensation insurance laws to remove the limitation on benefits to the state's weekly average wage

This bill modifies Montana's workers' compensation laws by removing the cap that limits benefit payments to the state's average weekly wage. It directly affects employees, volunteers, and specific groups such as volunteer firefighters, inmates in prison industries programs, and individuals performing community service under court orders. The key provision allows injured workers to receive benefits based on their actual wages rather than a fixed state average, while maintaining special rules that limit benefits for certain categories like community service participants to minimum wage levels. The legislation also clarifies coverage definitions for various worker types, including religious organization members and national guard personnel performing state duties.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes wage cap on workers' compensation benefits, expanding financial protection for injured workers and strengthening labor rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 3090: Generally revise workers' compensation laws

This bill revises Montana's workers' compensation laws by clarifying who qualifies for coverage and establishing new eligibility rules. It explicitly includes lawfully employed aliens while prohibiting unlawfully employed aliens from receiving workers' compensation benefits. The legislation also requires insurers to close claims for individuals who leave the United States or certain U.S. territories while a claim is active. Additionally, the bill updates definitions to cover various groups such as vocational trainees, community service workers, and inmates in prison industries programs, while maintaining exclusions for volunteers and foster parents. These changes aim to streamline how workers' compensation claims are handled and define the scope of covered workers more precisely.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts workers' compensation benefits for unlawfully employed aliens and requires claim closure when individuals leave the US, limiting immigrant access to state services.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts workers' compensation benefits by excluding unlawfully employed aliens and closing claims for those leaving the US, limiting worker protections and benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 3228: Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders

This bill would allow first responders in Montana, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional facility employees, to receive workers' compensation benefits for posttraumatic stress disorder if it is diagnosed according to the American Psychiatric Association's standards and linked to their job duties. The legislation amends existing state workers' compensation laws to create a specific pathway for these claims while maintaining the requirement that the mental health condition must arise from the scope of employment. By defining "first responder" and establishing diagnostic criteria, the bill aims to provide wage-loss and medical benefits to workers who develop PTSD due to their emergency response work.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands workers' compensation coverage for PTSD among first responders, improving mental health access and benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workers' compensation benefits for first responders by including PTSD coverage, strengthening worker protections and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 4, 2025

LC 1804: Revise workers' compensation definition of treating physician to include physical therapists

This bill amends Montana's workers' compensation law to officially recognize physical therapists as treating physicians within the state's workers' compensation system. The change directly affects injured workers, employers, and insurance providers by expanding the definition of who can provide medical care under the program. By updating the legal definition of "treating physician" in the relevant statute, the bill allows physical therapists to perform the same duties and receive the same recognition as physicians when treating work-related injuries. This change aims to streamline care options for injured workers while maintaining the existing framework for medical treatment and benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to healthcare by recognizing physical therapists as treating physicians in workers' compensation, improving patient care options and professional recognition.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workers' compensation benefits by recognizing physical therapists as treating physicians, improving access to care for injured workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 660: Restoring the right for injured worker to choose their own doctor.

This bill restores the right for injured workers in Montana to choose their own treating physician for workers' compensation claims, allowing them to select a doctor before the insurance company designates one. The law requires insurers to honor a worker's choice of doctor if that doctor agrees to follow specific responsibilities like coordinating care and providing timely medical determinations. Workers may also be referred to managed care organizations or preferred provider networks by their insurer, but the bill clarifies that simply posting information about these networks in the workplace does not count as official written notice to the worker. The legislation also adjusts reimbursement rates for doctors, paying 110% of the standard fee schedule for insurer-designated physicians and 90% for providers referred by the treating physician, while maintaining 100% payment for care received before a physician is officially designated.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by allowing injured workers to choose their own treating physician, improving access to preferred healthcare providers.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill restores injured workers' right to choose their own doctor, protecting worker autonomy and expanding benefits under workers' compensation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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