Bill > SB346

This bill revises workers' compensation laws to modify several key provisions related to benefit payments and medical treatment compliance. The bill changes the rules for how and when an insurer can be ordered to pay disputed benefits, now requiring the claimant to demonstrate a more probable than not chance of prevailing, and limiting the ordered benefits to 49 days. The bill also specifies several exceptions where benefits cannot be ordered, such as disputes over treating physician selection or refusal to cooperate with medical examinations. Additionally, the legislation allows insurers to pay medical claims without accepting liability for the overall claim, and requires them to notify the worker within 10 days of such payment. The bill expands the circumstances under which an insurer can terminate compensation benefits, now including situations where a worker refuses to comply with the insurer's selected treating physician or obstructs communication with a nurse case manager. These changes aim to provide more clarity and flexibility for insurers in managing workers' compensation claims while maintaining protections for workers.

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https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4248