Workers Comp in Crisis
**For Immediate Release**
Thursday, October 30th - 12:00 p.m.


NEW STUDY: MONTANA WORK COMP COSTS RANKED SECOND HIGHEST

According to a new study released today, Montana has the second highest workers’ compensation premiums in the entire country. The report comes from the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services, and can be view at: http://www4.cbs.state.or.us/ex/imd/reports/rpt/index.cfm?fuseaction=version_view&version_tk=181097&ProgID=FEARA012.  

“The Montana workers’ compensation system is in crisis,” said Webb Brown, President/CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, “Businesses in Montana, especially small businesses and their employees, are suffering from these high costs. We must act soon to provide relief to Montana businesses and reform the system.”

Over the past 10 years, the Oregon study has shown Montana moving up in the rankings. In 2000, Montana had the 12th highest premiums, 10th highest in 2002, 8th highest in 2004, and 5th highest in 2006. In the latest report released today, Montana moved up three spots to the 2nd highest premiums in the country, just behind Alaska. Montana’s neighbors have some of the cheapest work comp premiums in the country (Idaho – 34th; South Dakota – 36th; Wyoming – 37th; and North Dakota – 51st).

“We need some big reforms in this next legislative session to bring costs down and to help our Montana businesses remain competitive,” said Brown, “We look forward to working with all lawmakers to address this important economic issue.”

The Montana Chamber will push for the introduction of bills in the 2009 Legislature that pro-actively address work comp rates, including safety reforms, utilization reforms, shoring up the Old Fund, claim closure reform, return-to-work issues, and revisiting the definition of what qualifies as a workplace injury. The Montana Chamber is also intervening in a court case called Satterlee v. Lumberman’s Mutual, which would cost the workers’ compensation system hundreds of millions of dollars if the Montana Supreme Court decides in favor of the plaintiffs.

For more information, please contact Jon Bennion, Government Relations Director for the Montana Chamber of Commerce, at 406-442-2405, ext. 104, or email him at jon@montanachamber.com.  

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2008 Montana Healthcare Forum, November 20 & 21, Great Northern Hotel, Helena. Visit www.montanahealthcareforum.com for more info!

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Jon Bennion
Government Relations Director
Montana Chamber of Commerce
406 442-2405, ext. 104
jon@montanachamber.com
Montana Main Street Blog
www.montanamainstreetblog.typepad.com