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Montana Self Insurers' Association

September 2026 UPdate

  •  MSIA at the Governors Conference – West Yellowstone 10/6 – 9; Reception 10/6 @ 6p – Madison Crossing Lounge; Sponsored by myMatrixx, Safety National, Sanderson Firm & Triage Now
  • MSIA Business & Annual Meeting @ 9:45a 10/7; Sponsored by Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, Clarus IME, Definiti Comp Solutions/Definiti Rx & Wrenwell Claims - 10/7 9:45a    --  For All Members; Please Proxy If You Cannot Attend
  • MSIA Annual Issues Survey – What Do YOU Think? Confidential Responses Due 10/2
  • 2026 Governor’s Conference 10/7 – 9 West Yellowstone Holiday Inn  
  • Forget Everything You Think You Know About Structured Settlements Webinar -September 15 @ 10a MDT; Sponsored by CorVel & Health-e-Systems
  • MSF Declares $45m Dividend
  • Welcome New MSIA Member – Forthright Case Management

 

MSIA at the Governors Conference – West Yellowstone 10/6 – 9

  • Reception at the Governor’s Conference – Sponsored by myMatrixx, Safety National, Sanderson Firm & Triage Now 6p Madison Crossing Lounge 10/6
  • MSIA Business & Annual Meeting, Sponsored by Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, Clarus IME, Definiti Comp Solutions/Definiti Rx & Wrenwell Claims - 10/7 9:45a For All Members  - Please Proxy If You Cannot Attend
  • MSIA Annual Issues Survey – What Do YOU Think? Survey Out the Week of 9/14

The most important workers’ compensation meeting in the state – the Montana Governors Conference on Workers’ Compensation - always kicks off with the MSIA Business & Annual Meeting.

This year, we are starting early, with the first annual reception exclusively for MSIA members, guests and all of the Conference Speakers. This is a unique opportunity for MSIA members to have more informal conversations, to learn more and get to know the national speakers coming to the Governor’s Conference and details about the issues. It is an MSIA event so in addition to being educational, it will be interesting and fun. This year’s line up of speakers includes:

  • Sebastian Negrusa – VP of Research for WCRI
  • Dr. Robert Byron – leader of One Health of the Bighorn Valley (Heat Exposure)
  • David Nomberg – President of the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group (Injured Workers Representative)
  • Annie Davidson – Sr. VP of Legal Affairs and Compliance – Sanderson Firm (MSIA Member and Sponsor)
  • Bill Zachry – former Group VP of Risk & WC for Safeway/Albertsons & founder of CompSense
  • Dave North – former President & CEO of Sedgwick (International WC Expert)
  • Lorena Payne – APTA – MT (Physical Therapist)
  • Dr. Geralyn Datz - Founder & CEO of Southern Behavioral Medicine Associates (PTSD Treatment)
  • Jason Parker – President of Centrix Disability Management Services (Return To Work & Claims Relationships)
  • Theresa Stack – Occupational Ergonomist (Ergonomics)
  • Honorable Lee Bruner – MT Workers’ Compensation Court Judge

This is fast becoming one of THE EVENTS at the Governors’ Conference! You don’t want to miss it!

MSIA Business & Annual Meeting, Sponsored by Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, Clarus IME, Definiti Comp Solutions/Definiti Rx & Wrenwell Claims; 10/7 at 9:45a - For All Members

Please Proxy If You Cannot Attend

The MSIA Business & Annual Meeting kicks off the Conference. We will start at 9:45a on Wednesday 10/7 with the Association business – review and adoption of financial results, our budget – most importantly a review of the MSIA Annual Survey results and election of Board seats.

All members are requested to attend this important meeting. If you, or someone else from your company cannot attend, please provide your proxy so we can conduct the Association business.

We are again proposing a deficit budget – but have consistently generated a surplus from the budgeted (and spent) amount. The majority of those surplus dollars have been investment income – and have contributed to our ability to keep dues at the same level – we need your thoughts about what we do, and how we are doing it. As well, the Board Vice Chair, Treasurer/Secretary and one At Large Board seats are up for election and must be filled. In order, incumbents Dee Walcheck of Logan Health Michael Marsh of Wrenwell/Midland Claims and Vicki Evans of the MT Contractors Compensation Fund have indicated their willingness to remain on the Board. However, we will ask for nominations from the floor. YOUR VOICE MATTERS. Anyone from your company can cast a vote.

When we open the doors to hear from Bill Zachry, former Group VP for Risk and Workers’ Compensation for Safeway/Albertsons and Executive Director for CompSense, we will hear about Hard Stops, Guardrails and Ethics for A I – Designing Systems That Produce Safer Results. Is there anything more timely in our business? A I changes by the minute, not the day or week. What we think we know today – has been changed, sometimes significantly by tomorrow. Learn about the HAL Laws and their ultimate failure and what we can do as leaders to make A I work for us and those we work with.

If you cannot attend the MSIA Business Meeting in West Yellowstone on Wednesday 10/7 - - please provide your proxy (email is fine) to the Board of Directors:

 

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I, _____________________________(your name), representing ______________________________________ (MSIA Member) hereby provide my PROXY for quorum purposes only to the MSIA Board of Directors to conduct the Business Meeting scheduled for October 7, 2026. 

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MSIA Annual Issues Survey – What Do YOU Think? Survey Out the Week of 9/14

We conduct an annual CONFIDENTIAL member survey regarding what we see as the issues – and ask what you are seeing in the Montana system. The survey responses help form our public policy positions – and often provide us with the details for support in public policy discussions. All responses are held in the strictest of confidence and while your points may be used in our public policy discussions – there is never, ever any hint of attribution.

Providing your response is important because it provides you a direct voice in shaping our priorities, advocacy, and services. What does that mean?

  • Influence priorities: Your responses help identify the issues that matter most to members and the profession or industry. In the past, the survey has provided very clear public policy priorities.
  • Strengthen advocacy: Survey results can help the association speak to lawmakers, regulators, and other decision-makers with evidence about what members are experiencing and need. One member identified a specific concern with the existing law – and legislation was created, passed and became law because they spoke up.
  • Ensure your perspective is represented: If members don’t participate, decisions may be based on a smaller or less representative group of voices. Another member identified a series of issues with the law – and those became a rallying point for Montana businesses through our efforts.
  • Identify emerging concerns: The survey can surface new challenges, trends, or opportunities before they become widespread. New legal interpretations – despite years of precedence – have demonstrated a need for legislative action. When you point them out – we act.
  • Improve member services: Feedback can guide educational programs, resources, communications, events, and other benefits. The very successful educational efforts of MSIA were started because a member thought it would be a good idea.
  • Demonstrate member engagement: A strong response provides us with the details to demonstrate our expertise when talking with the business community, public policymakers and others regarding why an issue is important and gives the us greater credibility when advocating for change.

In short: It only takes a few minutes to respond, responses are absolutely CONFIDENTIAL and your input determines what we focus on and how effective we can be.

Look for the Survey coming to your email next week. Responses are due by 10/2 – more than one person can respond from the same company – often they will have different perspectives. When there is a conflict in the responses, we talk about it with the respondents.

 

Forget Everything You Thought You Knew About Structured Settlements

Webinar -  Sept 15 @ 10a MDT; Sponsored by CorVel & Health-e-Systems

Registration has closed for Not Your Parents Structured Settlement: Tools for Today’s Settlement Strategies on September 15 at 10a MDT, sponsored by CorVel and Health-e-Systems.

Kerri Poe, CSSC with Arcadia Settlements Group will walk us through the strategic financial tools available to assist in settlements and MSAs. In over 30 years of work, Poe has dealt with mass torts, personal injury settlements, Workers Compensation, general liability, medical malpractice and Minors’ cases. Poe brings value to both sides of the negotiation by working as a subject matter expert and being an advocate to the settlement process.

When used specifically, a structured settlement can be an integral part of the strategy supporting settlements that have to work for all sides. This isn't your parent's version of a slow, one-size-fits-all annuity; today’s structured settlement is a strategic financial tool that claims teams and attorneys use to solve real problems and provide for additional financial protection for injured workers.

CE credit for the MT WC Claims Examiner and the MT Insurance Producer license are available. MSIA members (if you get this email) have access to unlimited seats.

Sponsored by:

Nick Holstein:  Nick_Holstein@CorVel.com 303-518-5657

Kristi Kuh:  KKuh@HealtheSystems.com 813-463-1269

Regardless of general liability or workers' compensation claims, participants will walk away with practical, current strategies they can use at their desk - today. This is a fresh look at a familiar tool - - it might change how you approach your next case.

 

2026 Governor’s Conference 10/7 – 9 West Yellowstone Holiday Inn  

The line up of issues from national and regional experts really reflects the issues we can expect to address in our system. What happens in Montana, of course, is important. However, the Montana system is not the only system dealing with issues the speakers will be addressing – although we certainly have our own twist to these issues!. The Conference kicks off with the MSIA Annual Meeting where we will hear from Bill Zachry - Hard Stops, Guardrails and Ethics for A I – Designing Systems That Produce Safer Results.

  • Sebastian Negrusa, VP of Research for WCRI will be presenting their perspectives on AI, and the latest on their objective and well documented research
  • Theresa Stack will talk about Ergonomics
  • Dr. Robert Byron will present on Heat Exposure
  • Jason Parker will talk with us about how our attitudes impact recovery and treatment outcomes – and how to recognize the problems and address them
  • Annie Davidson with MSIA member Sanderson Firm will bring us up to date on MSP Trends, Traps and Trail Markers
  • Dr. Geralyn Datz will talk about PTSD treatments
  • David Nomberg, will talk about his perspectives on some of the financial aspects of WC – benefits that are too low and profits that are high
  • Lorena Payne will talk about Workforce Strengthening as part of a healthy workforce
  • Bill Zachry will be joined by Dave North, former CEO of Sedgwick, to talk about the Hidden Cost of Misplaced Incentives, and
  • Judge Lee Bruner will bring us up to date on significant cases at the WC Court and his approach to addressing issues.

AI – Ergonomics – PTSD – Actions that Inadvertently Delay Recovery – MSAs and the latest from CMS - Benefit levels – A stronger workforce – Heat – Misplaced Incentives. This is why the Governors Conference is consistently the most important WC meeting in the state. 

 

MSF Declares $45 million Dividend

One thing has become more and more clear – Montana State Fund is using its’ financial clout to control more and more of the Montana marketplace.

With the most recent Board decision on September 3 to declare a $45 million dividend for policyholders from 2025, MSF and their outright bragging of underwriting more and more cities after they gutted an MSIA member of their contract holders, MSF is breaking new ground in their efforts to make Montana look more like Oregon. They are even marketing that coverage has dividends – a veiled reference to their re-vamped dividend program which rewards the purchase, rather than employers’ attention to safety (the original intent of the dividend program.

 

Welcome New MSIA Member - Forthright Case Management

Valentina Schilling founded Forthright Case Management with a goal of providing Nurse Case Management as a service to those who need representation for their medical needs.  Forthright CM offers Boutique style Nurse Case Management services for Insurers, Employers, and Injured Workers. We provide efficient and cost-effective care by focusing on clear communication and coordination with a multidisciplinary team to achieve both medical and return to work goals.

Our Nursing Care is beyond reproach. Forthright CM maintains an incredible set of standards in all aspects of client and patient relationships. We ensure exceptional communication, care and compassion. This leads to the most important thing, positive patient outcomes. We are Forthright, direct and straightforward in all we do. Forthright Case Managers are selected for their excellence in Nursing, Professionalism and Compassion. Forthright CM services are customized to meet the specific needs of each client. Our team works collaboratively

throughout the entire process to provide best in class service. 

For more information contact Valentina Schilling at Valentina@ForthrightCM.com or 775-560-6852.