Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act: Fairer Claims, Better Support for Miners
This Act aims to make it easier for coal miners and their families to receive black lung benefits by providing free medical evaluations and assistance with claims. It also ensures benefits keep pace with the cost of living by tying them to inflation adjustments and strengthens coal companies' financial responsibility for these payments. Eligible individuals will have easier access to support and assurance that their benefits will not lose value.
Key points
Easier access to benefits: Free medical exams and assistance with claims, including a program to pay attorney fees.
Inflation-adjusted benefits: Annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index to keep pace with living costs.
Stronger company accountability: Stricter rules for coal companies' self-insurance and higher penalties for non-compliance.
Re-evaluation of old claims: Possibility to refile if previous denials relied on discredited medical opinions regarding chest radiographs.
Faster claim processing: A comprehensive strategy to reduce backlogs and delays in benefit adjudication.
Introduced
Citizen Poll