Senate Bill No. introduced by G. Hertz aims to revise Montana's workers' compensation laws, specifically addressing the conditions under which benefits may be ordered and the exceptions to these conditions. The bill amends Section 39-71-610 to stipulate that benefits can only be ordered if the claimant demonstrates a greater than 50% likelihood of prevailing in their claim. Additionally, it specifies that disputes regarding the insurer's selection of a treating physician, refusal to cooperate with medical care, unaccepted body parts, and other related issues are excluded from this section. The bill also introduces a provision that compensation benefits awarded under this section are stayed during an appeal.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 39-71-615 to clarify that insurers can pay medical claims related to nonwage loss injuries or occupational diseases without this being interpreted as an acceptance of liability. Insurers are required to notify workers of such payments within ten days. Lastly, Section 39-71-1106 is revised to allow insurers to terminate compensation benefits if a worker fails to comply with medical treatment requirements, including cooperation with the insurer's selection of a treating physician and cooperation with a nurse case manager. These changes aim to streamline the workers' compensation process and clarify the responsibilities of both insurers and claimants.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 39-71-610, 39-71-615, 39-71-1106
SB0346_1(1): 39-71-610, 39-71-615, 39-71-1106
SB0346_1(2): 39-71-610, 39-71-615, 39-71-1106
SB0346_1: 39-71-610, 39-71-615, 39-71-1106