Montana Code 39-71-1049. Stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance fund — purpose — payment process — rulemaking
39-71-1049. Stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance fund — purpose — payment process — rulemaking. (1) There is a stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance fund in the proprietary fund category.
Terms Used In Montana Code 39-71-1049
- assistance: means the evaluation, planning, implementation, and provision of appropriate services prior to the determination that the worker meets the definition of a disabled worker that are designed to facilitate a worker's return to work as soon as possible following the worker's injury or occupational disease. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
- Assistance fund: means the stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance fund provided for in 39-71-1049. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
- Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202
(2)The purpose of the assistance fund is to pay for stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance provided by the department so that assistance may be provided as early as practicable in the workers’ compensation claims process.
(3)(a) The department may establish by rule:
(i)the amounts and types of assistance to be provided; and
(ii)the maximum hourly rate that may be charged for stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance obtained by the department and paid for by the assistance fund.
(b)The rules adopted under subsection (3)(a) regarding the payment amounts to rehabilitation providers do not apply if the insurer has taken direct responsibility for providing stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance.
(c)If rules are not adopted to implement subsection (3)(a), the department may not provide more than $2,000 in assistance.