SMB Group Pushes for Montana WC Reform

The National Federation of Independent Business is asking for Montana small businesses to push state lawmakers to pass a workers’ compensation program reform bill before their current session ends on May 9.
Senate Bill 345 would reduce costs, streamline the system, and bring long-term stability, according to NFIB.
The lobbying group said the reform would “reduce burdens on employers by lowering costly premiums and freeing up resources for growth and hiring,” in an April 16 posting.
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The insurer member majority on the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s Governing Committee voted to ask California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara for a whopping 11.2% overall rate increase effective with policies commencing Sept. 1, 2025.
Our sister publication Workers’ Comp Executive looks at how high it is and what could it have been.
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An initiative by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to improve access to medical care within the State Workers’ Compensation system would remove barriers to treatment for injured workers and streamline the system for healthcare providers, according to a recent blog post by Goldberg Segalla attorney Robert Clark.
Among the proposals are universal authorization for providers, expanding provider participation, and a handful of legislative and regulatory changes, including amending the workers’ compensation law to allow insurers to pay for medical treatment for up to one year without accepting liability.
However, the proposals risk overwhelming existing processes, he wrote.
While the compensation board’s support of the proposals suggests momentum, its success hinges on execution.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will offer on May 8 a one-hour virtual training session focusing on how case managers can help injured workers tap into the resources, funds, and skills of the state’s Next Step Program.
Next Step connects permanently disabled injured workers with public institutions, non-profit organizations, and monetary resources to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to return to meaningful employment.
The presenter will be Marion White, the BWC’s Vocational Recovery Specialist. She previously worked for the Institute for Career Development, a training program for the United Steelworkers at Bridgestone for more than a decade.
The free program is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. CDT on May 8.
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