Senate Passes Security Deposit, Claim-Reopening Bill

The Montana Senate passed a bill that would repeal security deposit requirements for carriers and eliminate the requirement to include medical reports with joint petitions to reopen benefits. The Senate on Wednesday voted 35-14 to pass HB 199, by Rep. Derek Harvey, D- Butte. The state House of Representatives voted 100-0 to pass the bill in February. The bill would eliminate a requirement to include medical review panel opinions or medical records when an insurer and worker jointly file a petition to reopen medical benefits. And the measure would allow joint petitions to specify the dura...