Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC)
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs has issued a Final Rule revising certain regulations to resolve procedural and other issues that have arisen in administering and adjudicating claims under the Black Lung Benefits Act. The Final Rule:
- Requires all parties to exchange any medical information about the miner that they develop in connection with a claim, even if the party does not intend to submit the information into evidence, and allows for sanctions for failure to comply
- Clarifies coal mine operators' obligation to pay effective benefits awards during post-award modification proceedings
- Clarifies that a physician's supplemental report is a continuation of the physician's earlier report for purposes of the evidence-limiting rules
- Allows the Department to fully participate in claims adjudications after the liable coal mine operator stops participating because of adverse financial developments, such as bankruptcy or insolvency
The regulations are effective May 26, 2016.
DOL Press Release on Final Rule
Important Reference Materials – Information
81 Federal Register 24464 (April 26, 2016): Access the Final Rule on the Federal Register's website.
PDF of the Final Rule from the DCMWC website.