Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB345: Revise workers' compensation laws relating to evidentiary standards
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act generally revising workers' compensation laws relating to medical providers; providing for an evidentiary standards for medical providers; allowing for certain independent medical examinations by the insurer; amending section 39-71-605, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS RELATING TO MEDICAL PROVIDERS; PROVIDING FOR AN EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS; ALLOWING FOR CERTAIN INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS BY THE INSURER; AMENDING SECTION 39-71-605, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Evidentiary standard. (1)Opinions of the treating physician are not entitled to deference. (2) Testimony of a health care professional must be weighed based on the individual's education, training, experience, expertise in the medical field in question, EXTENT OF INTERACTIONS WITH OR TREATMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE WITH REGARD TO THE MEDICAL CONDITION, and credibility. (3) Discovery related to an independent medical examiner is limited to the provider's training, educational background, the number of independent medical exams performed each year, the number of independent medical exams for the particular insurer named as a respondent, and payments received from the particular insurer named as the respondent. Section 2. Section 39-71-605, MCA, is amended to read: "39-71-605. Examination of employee by physician -- effect of refusal to submit to examination -- report and testimony of physician -- cost. (1) (a) Whenever in case of injury the right to compensation under this chapter would exist in favor of any employee, the employee shall, upon on the …
Sponsors
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7) · primary sponsor
- Buttrey, Ed (R, 21)
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Process
- : (H) 2nd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (H) Committee Report
- : (H) Committee Executive Action
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (S) Transmitted to House
- : (S) 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 23, 2025): 43 yea, 55 nay, failed
- Do Pass (March 21, 2025): 32 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 4, 2025): 47 yea, 3 nay, passed
Subjects: Workers' Compensation
Common questions
- What is SB345?
- SB345 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise workers' compensation laws relating to evidentiary standards.
- What does SB345 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act generally revising workers' compensation laws relating to medical providers; providing for an evidentiary standards for medical providers; allowing for certain independent medical examinations by the insurer; amending section 39-71-605, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.".
- What is the status of SB345?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB345?
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB345?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4247
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.