## montana Healthcare Providers File lawsuit Against State Recovery Program
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Maximus, the company contracted by the state โof Montanaโ to administer its professional โฃassistance โฃprogramโ for healthcare workers. The โsuit, โฃbrought by nurses and a doctor, alleges โฃissuesโ with โthe program’s practices and impact on participant โwell-being.
The program provides support and monitoring for medical professionals – including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, โคchiropractors, and veterinarians – strugglingโฃ with addiction โor mental healthโ concerns. State โขlaw mandates licensing boards establish these programs, which โฃtypically involve drug testing, peer support, and workplace guidelines, but do not provide direct treatment.
Theโ current situation stems from a tumultuous transition following the dissolution of theโ previous โnonprofit operator, the Montana Professionalโค Assistanceโ Program, in 2021 โafter โขlosing โthe state contract. โ
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim โMaximus’ programโ is “punitive rather than supportive,” a sentiment echoed in an August audit by nonpartisanโข legislativeโ staff. the audit revealed considerablyโ lower satisfaction rates among โคparticipants โขcompared โto the previous โprogram.
Specific allegations inโ the lawsuit include arbitrary determinations ofโ noncompliance, leading to sanctions and prolonged program participation. Plaintiffs also allege excessive and needless drug testing, citing costs of โฃ$300 per test with multiple โคtests โขsometimes required within the same week, raising concerns about potential financial gain for Maximus.
these โฃconcerns โขgained further attention following the January suicide of Amy Young, โa โคBillings โnurse enrolled in theโฃ program, which was first reported by โMontana free Press in September. Young’s โฃdeath prompted scrutiny from lawmakers and licensing officials regarding participant well-being.
The lawsuit coincidesโค with โa review of state laws and the Maximus contract initiated by Gov. Greg Gianforte’s labor department. An advisory council โ has been formed to โassess the program and solicit public comment. The council recently recommended extending Maximus’โ contract for one year whileโค exploring alternative models โขandโค vendors. Maximus’โ current contract โis โset to expire in December. As of Wednesday, no further meetings of the advisory group have โbeen publicly โขannounced.