A Resource for State of Montana Employees
About Us
The Workers’ Compensation Management Bureau (WCMB) works closely with State agencies and the State’s workers’ compensation insurer, Montana State Fund, to help prevent injuries at work, assist in the management of workers’ compensation claims, and the SAW/RTW process. Both work-related injuries (these happen at a specific point in time), and occupational diseases (these develop over time), can have many long-term impacts to both agencies and employees such as increased agency workers’ compensation insurance premium costs, business disruptions, financial hardship to employees, long-term disability, and an employee’s quality of life outside the workplace. Preventing injuries is always the best practice for employees and State agencies.
The diversity of work performed by state agencies requires a proactive approach to addressing risk and potential for employee injury. We are currently working with agencies to conduct risk assessments, to implement safety committees, accident investigation processes, and defining workers' compensation and early return to work programs.
Background
The Department of Administration’s Workers’ Compensation Management Bureau (WCMB) was established by statute (Montana Code Annotated Section 39-71-403(1)(b)(i)), in 2007 to address significant rising costs in workers’ compensation insurance premiums for State of Montana agencies. The WCMB serves as the central resource for agencies in managing workers' compensation insurance, and works to enhance existing safety, loss-prevention, risk management and return-to-work activities. When State agencies encounter a significant number of on-the-job injuries or illnesses it leads to higher costs for State agencies, which ultimately affects the bottom line for the State of Montana and results in the need for increased tax revenue to pay workers’ compensation insurance premiums.
WCMB AND MONTANA STATE FUND
WCMB works closely with Montana State Fund to ensure service expectations for workers' compensation coverage are met for the State of Montana and all state agencies, this includes oversight of the activities of Montana State Fund (MSF) safety management consultants, claims examiners, and underwriters.