The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs has issued a final rule that revises the Black Lung Benefits Act in order to give miners greater access to their health information. It also bolsters the accuracy of claims decisions and require coal mine companies to pay all disability or survivor’s benefits due in a claim before modification can challenge the award.
The rule requires all parties to exchange any medical information that they develop in connection with a claim, even if they do not intend to submit the information into evidence. Previously, parties generally kept any medical information that they did not submit into evidence confidential.