Physicians: Choice Of

MONTANA SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

Heisler v. State Compensation Insurance Fund, 282 Mont. 270, 937 P.2d 45 (1997) Where interaction of 1991 statute and 1993 regulation resulted in grant of freedom to chose physician only to claimants insured by Plan 2 insurer, constitutional guarantees of equal protection were violated. A policy of discriminating between injured workers based solely on which insurance plan covers them is not rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest.

MONTANA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT DECISIONS

Young v. Liberty Northwest Insurance Corporation [8/25/00] 2000 MTWCC 51 Under section 39-71-1101, MCA (1997), claimant is not entitled to demand treatment by an orthopedic surgeon who is not a member of the insurer's designated preferred provider organization (PPO).