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MONTANA SELF INSURERS' ASSOCIATION

MSIA Update / Leg. Week 17

  • The Legislature Goes Home
  • MT Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation – Sept 3 – 5 – Billings
  • MSIA Webinar 5/21 – Avoiding the AI & Automation Potholes
  • MSF Annual Medical Conference – Whitefish – May 14 - 16

The Legislature Goes Home

They finally went home. The legislature adjourned Sine Die on Wednesday April 30, after passing property tax changes which provide a rebate this year, and something of a transfer for primary and long term rental properties to business and second homes in HB 231 (the Governor’s preferred bill) and SB 542. The total dollars expected to be collected does not change, the amounts primary residences and long term rentals will go down some with a shift to make up the change to commercial properties (businesses) and second homes. The legislature also passed a $16.6 billion budget bill for the next two years – largely echoing what the Governor wanted. 

This was a session unlike any before – and unlike any I have participated in – in any other state, at any other time. 

The Montana legislature meets every other year (odd number years) for a maximum of 90 legislative days. This year we started off with a bang – actually, something of a complete revolution, when ‘The Nine’ Republican members of the Senate revolted and voted with the Democratic minority to change the rules and make different committee assignments. It was apparent immediately that this was personal – unlike most political issues or debates. The conservative Senate leadership was clearly surprised to learn they were now relatively powerless to drive their agenda. The Nine also had the tacit support of the Governor and helped drive his agenda, while providing some support for Democratic proposals. 

The events may have had their start last year during the primaries – when the Governor supported candidates against some of the people who would become the legislative leadership – including the Senate President and the House Speaker. In fairness, the conservative leadership also challenged many of The Nine in primaries. So, when leadership was announced, they also announced rules and committees that targeted the Governor. Thus, we were off to the races on the first day. Then the allegations came about regarding one of the leaders of The Nine about a sweetheart contract he offered to one of his business associates, for work that some questioned as being necessary. An Ethics Committee was appointed, a Legislative Audit was conducted and ultimately, Senator Jason Ellsworth (R-Hamilton) was sanctioned by the Senate by stripping him of his Committee assignments and banning him from the Senate floor, for life. Oh, and along the way, allegations were made about the sitting Senate President and hard feelings continued throughout the session. 

The House was a bit more orderly – possibly learning from their Senate colleagues. 

Before the session started, everyone thought Medicaid Expansion was going to remove all the oxygen from the building. To be clear, the proposal is not an expansion of existing Medicaid coverage, it is an extension of the program first approved in the state in 2015 and extended in 2019. It was roundly opposed by leadership, but with business, labor, the Governor and so many non-conservatives in favor – and a strategy of dealing with the issue early, it wound up being a non-event. The sunset from the existing law was removed, and to the extent the Federal government continues to meet the funding requirements, Montana remains on the list of states with the Expansion. 

So, property taxes, more or less as the Governor wanted them, income taxes, about as the Governor wanted them, Medicaid Expansion, as the Governor wanted it - - seeing a theme here? With The Nine, the Governor was more able to assert his program than he would have been otherwise. 

From our seat – the costs of The Nine working with the Democrats to pass the Governors’ agenda were likely PTSD for first responders and passage of bills from Committee that we would have not otherwise expected to see. SB 295 – Choice of Physician passed the Senate Business & Labor Committee, as did SB 308 – Elimination of the Cap on Weekly Benefits. Both died in the process, in the Senate – but they passed a committee that they would have otherwise died in. SB 394 – PTSD for First Responders also passed – and this bill has made it to the Governor’s desk, where we should not be surprised if he signs it into law. MSIA was the lead opponent on all three proposals. SB 109 – Physical Therapists Permitted to be Treating Providers also passed (and was signed into law, effective 10/1), but the vote margins indicate the Senate shenanigans had nothing to do with it.  

The MSIA requested bill, SB 345 to Eliminate the Treating Provider Deference in Disputes and Make IMEs Easier to Get made it through three of the five steps to becoming law. We sailed through the Senate – in all honesty, largely the benefit of fortuitous timing, and through the House Business & Labor Committee. We failed on the House floor – again by a margin which indicates the Senate infighting had nothing to do with it. Otherwise, HB 197- Overturning “Rainey,” SB 338 - providing Guardian ad Litem authority to the Workers’ Comp Court Judge, HB 143 - Allowing PAs to be Treating Physicians and HB 428 - the Department of Labor clean up bill all passed and if not already signed into law, should be soon. HB 516 - a proposal to move the Workers’ Compensation Court from the Department of Labor to the Judiciary also passed and is likely to be signed into law. 

All in all, a different session. Five of The Nine, by my count, are up for election in 2026. Also, important for our issues, one of the leading voices on business issues, Ed Buttrey (R-GTF) chair of the House Business & Labor Committee is termed out of the House and will be running for Senate. Buttrey carried SB 345, at our request, on the House floor and did a very good job of presenting the bill, rebutting the issues, in an ultimately failed effort to provide more balance to the existing system. (I may be biased in that assessment of balance). 

For a full list of legislation we had been following – and the bills that died during the process, see the attached spreadsheet for more details and access to links to the language, fiscal notes or amendments.

MT Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation – Billings Sept 3 – 5

MSIA Business & Annual Meeting featuring Dr. Claire Muselman – Sept 3 at 8:15a

The Department of Labor has opened registration for the Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation. The Conference will be held at the DoubleTree in Billings from Sept 3 – 5. Registration is available here: 2025 Governor's Conference

The meeting typically kicks off with the MSIA Business & Annual Meeting starting the first day, September 3 at 8:15a. We will review the prior years’ results, review and approve a budget and elect Board members. Any Employer member is eligible to run for the Board and we encourage your participation. This year, we will be electing the Chair and two at large seats. Seats up for election are the Chair, currently filled by Donna Haeder, with NorthWestern Energy and two At-Large seats, one of which is currently held by Kevin Bartsch of the MT Schools Group Interlocal Authority and the other At-Large seat is currently vacant. Any Employer member is eligible and welcome to run for the seats and based on our Bylaws, the Membership elects the officers.  

This year our Guest Speaker for the MSIA Annual Meeting will be Dr. Claire Muselman of Drake University and DCM. Muselman has been a national leader in claims management; she was one of the first to recognize the cost savings and benefits of a more humanistic approach towards managing claims. Her dynamic presentation and message is not one you will want to miss.

The Governor’s Conference line up will feature some special MSIA guests as well: 

  • Amy Rolando - MinWorx Health - an MSIA Member
  • Judge Lee Bruner – MT Work Comp Court
  • Bob Wilson - Workcompcollege.com – a friend of MSIA and a former guest speaker at an MSIA Annual Meeting
  • Dr Lisa Fitzpatrick – XcelABLE – an MSIA Member
  • Dr Tyrone Spears - Division of Workers' Compensation, City of Los Angeles
  • Dr Gary Franklin - School of Public Health, University of WA – a friend of MSIA
  • And many more

Registration for the MT Governor’s Conference – including the MSIA Business & Annual Meeting is available here: 2025 Governor's Conference

MSIA Webinar 5/21 – Avoiding the AI & Automation Potholes

On the Winding Road of AI & Automation - It’s Best to Avoid the Potholes

Presented by Cliff Belliveau, Chief Innovation Officer, MyMatrixx May 21, 2025 at 10a MDT - - Advance registration required

CE credit for MT WC Claims Examiners; CE credit for MT Insurance Producer licenses has been applied for

Cliff Belliveau is the Chief Innovation Officer for MyMatrixx will explore the impact of AI and automation on examiners – the one’s driving the car. Will the latest technologies lead to fewer examiners? Faster examiners? Specialized examiners? He will present how technology is helping examiners today, what’s next for tomorrow and, where to turn to avoid the potholes. Belliveau is recognized as a national leader and provides a great presentation – lively, entertaining and thought provoking about a topic he is passionate about – the application of AI to the workers’ compensation world. 

Belliveau will go through:

  • The history and an overview of AI
  • How to leverage automation to enhance decision-making capabilities without undermining professional expertise and judgment
  • The impact to accuracy and efficiency in claim processing to traditional methods
  • The ethical considerations of privacy, decision-making transparency and potential biases, and
  • The economic impact to employers of implementing AI and automation to processes. 

Register Here: On the Winding Road of AI & Automation - It’s Best to Avoid the Potholes

MSIA Members have access to unlimited seats, but advance registration is required.

This Webinar Sponsored by:

Michael Marsh mmarsh@midlandclaims.com or 406-656-9960           

Misty Steed MSteed@PacBlu.com 907-301-2084

MSF Annual Medical Conference – Whitefish May 14 – 16 

Featuring MSIA Members - Challenges and Innovations: Solutions for a Changing Workers' Comp World

The MSF Annual Medical Conference brings together some of the country's top medical minds working in workers’ compensation to Montana to speak with claims professionals, Montana based medical providers and others. It is a unique opportunity to hear from leaders from across the country here in Montana. Registration information is here: Montana State Fund 23rd Annual Medical Conference. 

Since it focuses on the top medical voices in the country, it’s not a surprise the Conference also features three MSIA members.Here is the current lineup of speakers:

  • Kelly Stokes, Injured Employee, Montana State Fund
  • Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, DrOT, CHT, CAE, CEAS, President/CEO, XcelABLE – MSIA Member
  • Jonathan Lindsey, Claims Manager, CIGA
  • Terri Harrison, Director of Claims, CIGA
  • Kathleen Collins, Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Craig Hospital – MSIA Member
  • Kurt Hegmann, MD, MPH, Center Director, RMCOEH
  • Jan A. Saunders, CPO, LPO, Clinical Director, Prosthetics, Paradigm Care at Home – MSIA Member
  • Dean Blackaby, Attorney at Law, Montana Work Comp Solutions
  • Honorable Judge Lee Bruner, Montana Workers’ Compensation Court
  • Marcos Iglesias, MD, MMM, FAAFP, FACOEM, Chief Medical Director, Accident Fund Group