Better Benefits and Faster Aid for Miners with Black Lung Disease.
This Act reforms the benefits system for coal miners suffering from black lung disease and their families. It introduces benefit adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index, facilitates obtaining medical evidence at the fund's expense, and allows for the readjudication of cases where medical opinions have been discredited. The goal is to ensure claims are processed in a fair and timely manner.
Key points
Benefit Adjustments: Ensures that benefit payments will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to keep up with the cost of living.
Easier Access to Evidence: The Secretary will provide an opportunity for a complete pulmonary evaluation (including CT scans in certain cases) and establish a program to pay attorney fees and medical expenses in qualifying claims.
Readjudicating Cases: Allows miners or survivors whose claims were denied based on medical opinions that the Secretary has directed not be credited to file new claims.
Increased Penalties: Raises monetary penalties for mine operators who fail to secure benefit payments from $1,000 to $25,000.
Expired
Citizen Poll