Montana Medical Professionals Sue State Recovery Program
A group of doctors and nurses in Montana has filed a class-action lawsuit against the company that the state has designated to run the Montana Recovery Program for medical professionals struggling with addiction. The lawsuit claims the company is placing undue monitoring and financial burdens on program participants, who often must participate in the program to meet their licensing requirements.
If you’re a medical professional, regardless of the state where you practice, and you’re facing requirements from your state licensing board to enter a program to deal with your addiction issues, you need to seek reliable legal advice before entering into any agreements with the board. The Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm has years of experience protecting the rights of healthcare professionals. We know how to work with state licensing boards to ensure they don’t place undue requirements on you and to secure your right to continue practicing in the state. Contact us at 888-535-3686 or complete our confidential contact form to learn more.
One Doctor and 10 Nurses File Lawsuit Against Maximus, Inc.
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry hired Maximus, Inc., starting in 2023, to run the Montana Recovery Program. The program helps healthcare professionals who struggle with substance use disorders, mental illness, or chronic physical illness so they can continue to safely practice in their profession. Based on the individual case, the Department of Labor and Industry’s medical licensing boards may require medical professionals to enroll in the program, or doctors and nurses may choose to participate on their own.
One doctor and 10 nurses across Montana have filed the class-action lawsuit against Maximus, claiming the company has created arbitrary sanctions for participants, kept participants in the program for extended periods without proper justification, failed to share participant documents and records, subjected participants to expensive and unwarranted monitoring practices, and charged participants excessive fees for drug tests and peer support groups. The lawsuit alleges that Maximus is seeking financial gain rather than working in a way to best support addiction recovery.
A nonpartisan legislative auditing poll has determined that Montana healthcare professionals participating in the program are significantly less satisfied with Maximus’ program compared to previous companies running the recovery program. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has not yet indicated whether it will extend Maximus’ contract beyond its initial term, which ends in December.
The LLF National Law Firm Can Help
If you’re a healthcare professional struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues, the Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help you navigate the intricacies involved in keeping your license and maintaining your practice. We can help you determine whether a recovery program—state-mandated or not—is in your best interest, and we can communicate with your state licensing authority on your behalf to negotiate for more lenient requirements.
If you’re already participating in a state-mandated program, the LLF National Law Firm can help you figure out whether the program is helping or hindering your progress. If you feel that the program is creating unnecessary burdens or obstacles for you to meet the state’s requirements, we know how to protect your license and get your medical career back on track. We have a long and successful record of working with state medical license authorities to protect the rights of healthcare professionals.
As a healthcare provider, you shouldn’t have to face conflict with a licensing board alone. The LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team can advise and guide you through any issues that threaten your license, and we can help you continue working in your chosen career. Call us at 888-535-3686 or complete our online contact formto schedule a consultation and get started.