Title 39, Title 39

Whenever compensation plan No. 1, 2, or 3 is referred to, such reference also includes all other sections which are applicable to the subject matter of such reference.

(1) In addition to benefits otherwise provided in this chapter, separate benefits not exceeding a total of $4,000, adjusted as provided in subsection (2), may be paid by the insurer for specialized job modification, reasonable travel, and relocation expenses used for any of the f…

The compensation provisions of this chapter, whenever referred to, shall be held to include the provisions of compensation plan No. 1, 2, or 3 and all other sections of this chapter applicable to the same or any part thereof.

The insurer, the rehabilitation provider, and the department shall provide to one another case information as necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.

(1) If an insurer believes that a worker is refusing unreasonably to cooperate with the rehabilitation provider, the insurer, with 14 days' written notice to the worker and the department, may terminate any benefits, except medical benefits and the impairment award, that the work…

(1) The department shall create a medical status form to be provided to a health care provider providing treatment for a compensable injury or occupational disease. (2) The form must contain, at a minimum, the following information: (a) the worker's first and last names and claim…

(1) The goal of stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance is to minimize avoidable disruption caused by a work-related injury or occupational disease by assisting the worker in the worker's return to the same position with the same employer or to a modified position with the same em…

(1) (a) A worker who is claiming an injury or occupational disease, an employer, or a medical provider may ask that the department furnish stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance. After the worker signs a claim for benefits, the department shall promptly attempt to determine which…

(1) Stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance must be provided by a rehabilitation provider pursuant to this section if: (a) the department provides assistance; or (b) an insurer elects to designate a rehabilitation provider instead of using the insurer's own stay-at-work/return-to-…

(1) There is a stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance fund in the proprietary fund category. (2) The purpose of the assistance fund is to pay for stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance provided by the department so that assistance may be provided as early as practicable in the wo…

(Temporary) Declaration of public policy. For the purposes of interpreting and applying this chapter, the following is the public policy of this state: (1) An objective of the Montana workers' compensation system is to provide, without regard to fault, wage-loss and medical benef…

(1) (a) The assistance fund must be maintained by assessing employers insured by plan No. 1, plan No. 2, and plan No. 3 an amount as provided in subsections (2) through (10). (b) The board of investments shall invest the money in the assistance fund. The investment income must be…

The department may adopt rules to implement this part.

A person, including but not limited to an insurer or an employer, may not be held liable for civil damages as a result of reporting in good faith information that the person believes proves a violation of the provisions of this chapter.

(1) Pursuant to the public policy stated in 39-71-105, prompt claims handling practices are necessary to provide appropriate service to injured workers, to employers, and to providers who are the customers of the workers' compensation system. (2) All workers' compensation and occ…

(1) A false statement made by an employee in an employer-provided written questionnaire calling for the disclosure of an employee's medical condition that is relevant to the essential functions of the job following a conditional offer of employment bars all wage-loss or medical b…

(1) Prior to the insurer's designation or approval of a treating physician as provided in subsection (2) or a referral to a managed care organization or preferred provider organization as provided in subsection (8), a worker may choose a person who is listed in 39-71-116(42) for …

(1) In order to promote cost containment of medical care provided for in 39-71-704, development of preferred provider organizations by insurers is encouraged. Insurers may establish arrangements with suppliers of soft and durable medical goods and health care providers in additio…

(1) A managed care system is a program organized to serve the medical needs of injured workers in an efficient and cost-effective manner by managing the delivery of medical services for a defined population of injured workers, pursuant to 39-71-1101, through appropriate health ca…

Workers who are subject to managed care must receive medical services in the manner prescribed in the contract. Each contract must comply with the certification requirements provided in 39-71-1105. Insurers who contract with a managed care organization for medical services shall …

(1) A health care provider, a group of medical service providers, or an entity with a managed care organization may make written application to the department to become certified under this section to provide managed care to workers for injuries or occupational diseases that are …

An insurer that provides 14 days' notice to the worker and the department may terminate any compensation benefits that the worker is receiving until the worker cooperates, if the insurer believes that the worker is unreasonably refusing: (1) to cooperate with a managed care organ…

(1) Reasonable domiciliary care must be provided by the insurer: (a) from the date the insurer knows of the employee's need for home medical services that results from an industrial injury; (b) when the preponderance of credible medical evidence demonstrates that nursing care is …

(1) Unless authorized by the insurer, a treating physician may not refer a claimant to a health care facility at which the physician does not directly provide care or services when the physician has an investment interest in the facility, unless there is a demonstrated need in th…

(1) In order to ensure high-quality health care for an individual with a compensable occupational injury or disease, prescriptions for Schedule II or Schedule III drugs identified in Title 50, chapter 32, part 2, may be carefully monitored for potential abuse, dependence, interac…

Unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter the following definitions apply: (1) "Actual wage loss" means that the wages that a worker earns or is qualified to earn after the worker reaches maximum healing are less than the actual wages the worker received at the time …

(1) "Employer" means: (a) the state and each county, city and county, city school district, and irrigation district; all other districts established by law; all public corporations and quasi-public corporations and public agencies; each person; each prime contractor; each firm, v…

(1) As used in this chapter, the term "employee" or "worker" means: (a) each person in this state, including a contractor other than an independent contractor, who is in the service of an employer, as defined by 39-71-117, under any appointment or contract of hire, expressed or i…

(1) "Injury" or "injured" means: (a) internal or external physical harm to the body that is established by objective medical findings; (b) damage to prosthetic devices; (c) damage to appliances, except for damage to eyeglasses, contact lenses, dentures, or hearing aids; or (d) de…

(1) "Wages" means all remuneration paid for services performed by an employee for an employer, or income provided for in subsection (1)(d). Wages include the cash value of all remuneration paid in any medium other than cash. The term includes but is not limited to: (a) monetary c…

Except as provided in 39-71-407, 39-71-601, and 39-71-603 [and as specified in 39-71-1401], this chapter applies to injuries and occupational diseases. (Bracketed language void on occurrence of contingency--sec. 7, Ch. 158, L. 2019.)

(Temporary) Presumptive occupational disease for firefighters -- rebuttal -- applicability -- definitions. (1) (a) A firefighter for whom coverage is required under the Workers' Compensation Act is presumed to have a claim for a presumptive occupational disease under the Workers'…

(Temporary) Conditions for claiming presumptive occupational disease. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), the following must be satisfied for the presumption in 39-71-1401 to apply: (a) the firefighter must timely file a claim for a presumptive occupational disease under Ti…

This part may be cited as the "Montana Safety Culture Act".

The purpose of this part is to reduce the incidence of occupational injury and illness by promoting safety in the workplace in order to control the costs of claims for workers' compensation insurance. The creation of a safety culture requires employers to provide training and edu…

(1) As used in this part, "safety consultation services" means assistance rendered by an insurer or the department to advise and aid an employer in the identification, evaluation, and control of existing and potential accidental and occupational health problems. The services may …

(1) To promote health and safety in places of employment in this state: (a) each public or private employer shall establish and administer a safety program in accordance with rules adopted by the department pursuant to 39-71-1505; and (b) the department, relying upon the support …

The department shall adopt rules, including but not limited to rules that require: (1) each employer to conduct an educational-based safety program, including but not limited to: (a) a safety training program to provide: (i) new employee general safety orientation; (ii) job- or t…

To implement safety requirements, each insurer shall notify each insured employer of the type of safety consultation services available and the location where the safety consultation services may be requested.

(1) Each insurer shall provide safety consultation services to each of its insured employers who request the assistance. (2) The safety consultation services to be provided are within the discretion of the insurer but must include consideration of the hazard, experience, and size…

(1) The furnishing of or the failure to furnish safety consultation services related to, in connection with, or incidental to a workers' compensation insurance contract or agreement to provide workers' compensation coverage does not subject the insurer or its agents, employees, o…

(1) A workers' compensation administration fund is established out of which are to be paid upon lawful appropriation all costs of administering the Workers' Compensation Act, with the exception of the certification of independent contractors provided for in Title 39, chapter 71, …

The department shall keep its principal office in the capital of the state. It may rent or lease quarters for the conduct of its administrative duties.

(1) The department is hereby vested with full power, authority, and jurisdiction to do and perform any and all things that are necessary or convenient in the exercise of any power, authority, or jurisdiction conferred upon it under this chapter. (2) The department may adopt rules…

(1) The statutory and common-law rules of evidence do not apply to a hearing before the department under this chapter. A petition for a hearing before the department must be filed within 2 years after benefits are denied. (2) A hearing under this chapter may be conducted by telep…

(1) The department shall have power and authority to charge and collect a fee for copies of papers and records, including certified copies of documents and orders filed in its office, sufficient to recover the cost of the material and the time expended, as fixed by the department…