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Montana Self Insurers' Association

January 2026 Update

MT Claims Examiners – New Communications/Discussion Program

There has been a significant change in our work, particularly post pandemic. Work from home, new standards, the turn-over in claims staff have all lead to a new generation of examiner and new approaches to our work. One of the things we think is missing, certainly reduced with work from home, is the informal discussion, informal mentoring and learning from claims peers.

MSIA is a part of a group to change that - - We Are Bringing Back the Conversation for Claims Examiners!

Remote work and constant changes have made it harder to connect with peers. Remember when you could lean over the cubicle wall and ask, “what would you do with this?” Or, “is this normal?” Those moments mattered—and we’re part of an informal group taking the first step to bring them back, in Helena on Tuesday, January 13 in the back room of The Bagel Company on the Gulch starting at 11:30a.

MSIA is helping to organize an informal opportunity to talk, learn, and connect with others in the Montana claims world. No agenda, no formal presentations, just a chance to share ideas, ask questions, and stay ahead of the changes shaping our work. This is a claims examiners’ opportunity to

 

  • Discuss complex situations and get fresh perspectives
  • Stay informed about industry changes (CMS reporting, AI tools, etc.)
  • Build relationships with peers
  • Enjoy a little social time (and sometimes food!)

MSIA will help host what we expect will be the first of a series of informal conversations about WC claims handling, with no limits on what we discuss – other than avoiding antitrust issues. This is informal – when this group hosts other meetings the invitation to claims examiners is if you have something you want to talk about to see if others see it, bring it.  No pressure – No formal presentations – No problem.

This first effort will be in Helena, on Tuesday, January 13, starting at 11:30a in the Back Room of The Bagel Co on the Gulch. If you cannot join us, please encourage your colleagues to join us. The invitation is for claims examiners – regardless of whether they are with employers, TPAs or carriers to discuss what they’re seeing, how they can respond and where they can turn to hear from others about different ways to address different situations.

 

Rising Medical Solutions Annual Claims Management Survey – We Need YOU!

Rising Medical Solutions (an MSIA member), and a team of industry leaders annually survey the best in the business for the latest in claims management information. This is their 13th annual survey. The results always reveal interesting and thought-provoking information on our business, how it is run and the results we see across the spectrum of our industry. MSIA members are requested to provide their thoughts and approaches for this survey, again this year. Responses to the survey are due January 23.

As with any information we ask you to provide, information provided is strictly confidential - - and extraordinarily helpful. We need your voice – take the 10 Minute Confidential WC Claims Leaders Survey

  • We are at what may be a pivotal moment in our business - The 2025 survey explores how claims organizations are transforming—AI-driven tools, next-gen talent, tech-enabled operations, and connected customer experience. The results will spotlight what’s working and what’s next.
  • Who should respond:  If you lead workers’ comp claims operations, take this 10 Minute Confidential Survey today. In return, you’ll get the 2025 Report before anyone else —and it is typically packed with proven strategies driving claims innovation and positive results.

Your insights will help drive the industry forward. Share the link with your team and peers.

Thank you for your participation.

 

LAST CALL for Speakers - NCSI Annual Conference – 5/31-6/3 Palm Springs, CA

The deadline for submissions for speaking at the National Council of Self Insurers Annual Conference is tomorrow, January 9. MSIA is a member of the Board of Directors and the Conference Committee, and if you contact us directly, we may be able to submit your application, if you must be late. Here is the direct link for applying to speak: NCSI 2026 Conference Speaker Application.

The National Council Annual Conference focuses on Employers Talking With Employers about what’s working, what’s next and what they’ve learned in trying different approaches as we try to eliminate accidents and help injured workers return to life after an accident has happened. As well, the Conference is designed to be an intimate gathering, providing greater opportunity to network and discuss issues with peers and leaders.

MSIA members, as leaders in our business have been well represented in the past – Sibayne Stillwater, Midland Claim Service, EK Health, Sanderson Firm, MinWorx Health, Rx Bridge, Allan Koba Compliance Solutions, MyMatrixx, Safety National, Bardavon Health and Paradigm have made presentations in the past. The National Council Annual Conference is an important opportunity to learn from the best in class, make new connections, reconnect with peers, network and learn from professionals across the country.

This is a purposefully limited conference to provide the greatest opportunities to connect and learn. If you need to be late in submitting, contact MSIA directly for the potential of your application to be reviewed. NCSI 2026 Conference Speaker Application. National Council requires that if a service provider wants to present, an employer/group must be part of the presentation and share their perspectives. National Council members and speakers are names you know – Walt Disney, Walmart, Sunbelt Rentals, JM Smucker, Fanactics and more. Not all applicants are accepted – there are limited speaking opportunities available. You and your company should be on that list.

Whether you are a speaker or an attendee – this is a Conference you do not want to miss!

 

WCRI Webinar Jan 15 – Psychosocial Factors & Functional Outcomes Following Physical Therapy

How do psychosocial factors impact recovery outcomes in injured workers? The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will provide a 30 minute webinar highlighting the findings from their recent study, Psychosocial Factors and Functional Outcomes Following Physical Therapy. The study explores how risk factors such as poor recovery expectations, fear avoidance, poor coping, catastrophizing, and perceived injustice affect recovery in injured workers undergoing physical therapy. These “yellow flags”—psychosocial risk factors—are strong predictors of adverse outcomes.

The webinar is set for Thursday, January 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET (Noon MST) and there is a charge for non-WCRI members. Use this link to register: Psychosocial Factors and Functional Outcomes

At this point, we are all aware of the psychosocial impacts of physical injuries and the impact on recovery, let alone return to work. This report is a follow up to their 2024 report on psychosocial factors on recovery from low back injuries, with this report focusing on shoulder and knee injuries.

The low back study found that the psychosocial factors – ‘yellow flags’ – were reasonable predictors of recovery delays. The same holds true for shoulder and knee injuries. First, 46% of shoulder patients reported high levels of negative coping and 32% had high levels of fear avoidance. These factors are among the most important in fear of movement – which directly impacts the recovery process. The numbers were similar for knee injuries – 42% and 31%, respectively. These levels are higher than in private (health) insurance patients.

This study relied on a large population of risk factors and patient reported outcomes of those involved with physical therapy after an injury. Since the study was based on all injuries it provides a reasonable comparison between the workers’ compensation and health insurance treatments.

 

  • In shoulder injuries, based on the study, there was a functional status decrease of 33%
  • In knee injuries, the decrease was 40%.
  • Health insurance patients reported about the same decrease for shoulder injuries, but only a 27% decrease for knee injuries.

If you would like a copy of the full study, please contact MSIA. Register for the Webinar here: Psychosocial Factors and Functional Outcomes

 

Annual Business & Economic Research Economic Outlook Seminars – Coming to a City Near You Jan 27 – Mar 11

The annual Bureau of Business & Economic Research (BBER) Economic Outlook Seminar reviews the key economic results from the US and Montana. This year the Seminar starts in Helena on January 27 and will be in Great Falls (1/28), Missoula (1/30), Billings (2/3), Bozeman (2/4), Butte (2/5), Kalispell (2/10), Lewistown (3/10) and wind up in Havre (3/11). These seminars over the years have invited controversy, provide a different take on where our economy is and always highlight the economies of the areas they visit in their review of the states’ economy.

For more information and registration for the Economic Outlook Seminar near you, use this link: BBER - EOS 2026

This year’s program should be a doozy - - The Montana Chamber of Commerce, after the end of the legislative session, started talking about the need and the potential of discussing a sales tax in the state - - if it was constitutionally required to impact the property tax burden (that’s a big if).

There are plenty of questions about the property tax changes enacted last session as the changes only shifted the tax burden and did not functionally change the tax structure. Since there was no new money introduced to the property tax system real reform could not happen. Thus, while some homeowners may see a decrease in their property taxes, second homes (the cabin at the lake for example) and commercial properties saw increases to offset those decreases. In simple terms, absent new money or a decrease in the overall taxes collected, there was no opportunity for significant changes to the property tax system. Was that enough?

For years, a big part of the Montana economy has been tourism. However, we invite tourists to our state for fishing, hunting, the parks, skiing and everything else, and do not tax them for the privilege. Is a sales tax part of the answer? This year, the featured review and discussions will be on the potential and problems with a sales tax proposal for Montana. Voters rejected the idea pretty resoundingly in 1971 and 1993. With the property tax issues we’re dealing with and the continued growth in tourism, is it time to revisit the question?

The economic experts from the BBER and Bob Story of the Montana Taxpayers Association will discuss what a sales tax could mean for the Montana economy, what the impacts on property taxes could be and the politics surrounding the issue. Bob is one of the top experts on tax questions and often leads the discussions on tax law changes during the legislative session.

For more information and registration for the Economic Outlook Seminar near you, use this link: BBER - EOS 2026

  • Helena – 1/27             
  • Great Falls – 1/28                   
  • Missoula - 1/30         
  • Billings - 2/3             
  • Bozeman - 2/4           
  • Butte - 2/5
  • Kalispell - 2/10       
  • Lewistown - 3/10             
  • Havre -3/11

 

MT Chamber of Commerce Business Days at the Capital

Despite the attention property taxes received last session, we’re not done (see above story on the Annual Economic Outlook Seminar). That was one of the themes at the annual MT Chamber of Commerce Business Days at the Capital. Business Days, whether during a session year or not, typically is a predictor of what’s going to be important during the next session.

The changes in property tax this past year increased property taxes on businesses and second homes to pay for any reductions primary homeowners might see. The consistent message this year from the speakers was that despite the changes last session, our property tax structure is out of step regionally and with the rest of the country. We have 17 different classifications of property for tax purposes – waaaaay more than other states. This impacts Montanans ability to stay in their homes, and is impacting attracting business to the state. The message was that we have about a 5 year, or less, window to address the issue before business in their next building cycle will be eliminating Montana from consideration relatively quickly.

With that said, part of the message was that our economy has transitioned from timber, manufacturing and mining – heavy investment, capital and location intensive to financial services, technology and health services. The economic base is very different, but our property tax structure has not as significantly changed to reflect that change.

The Legislative leaders, Senate President Matt Regier (R-Kalispell), Speaker Brandon Ler (R-Savage) and Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers (D-Boeman) (Mary Caferro (D-Helena was ill and unable to attend). addressed the group at breakfast the second day. While they said last year’s changes were a step in the right direction, they accepted that there is still work to be done. Speaker Ler told us that using income tax revenues to offset property taxes was a non-starter for him as it takes dollars from people who do not own property to subsidize those who do. The conclusion was absent revenue from somewhere, property tax remains a zero sum game – any decreases have to be offset by increases elsewhere within the property tax system.

Workers’ Compensation was not a topic at Business Days at the Capital, which is a preview of the next legislative session. We can expect the usual suspects, below to be discussed:

·       PTSD Coverage

·       Choice of Physician

·       Wage Transparency

·       Eliminate SAWW limitation on benefits

MSIA will continue to promote issues important to us – elimination of the automatic deference to ‘treating physicians’ and access to IMEs, as well as other ideas you might have. However, workers’ compensation is not expected to be one of the major issues in the next legislative session. We will be working with the Chamber, regulators, carriers, other businesses, medical providers and labor before session to do everything we can to make it an easier session, but…”No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session” (1Tucker 248 N.Y. Surr. 18).

 

Montana State Bobcats Win FCS National Championship!  THE BOBCATS WIN!

The Montana State University Bobcats won the national FCS Division 1 Football Championship – marking their third national championship, and the first since 1984. And, they did it in their usual ‘scare us half to death’ fashion by beating Illinois State 35 – 34 in OT. Make sure next time you’re around to be wearing your Blue & Gold!

Montana Self Insurers Association’s work does not stop at the state borders, but, really, how could we not include this?

 

THE MSU BOBCATS ARE THE NATIONAL FCS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS!