DOL and NIOSH Create B-Reader Quality Assurance Program
Important news in the black lung benefits system: The federal government has created an interagency program to revoke the “B-Reader” certification of biased physicians. Background NIOSH’s…
Congressmen Introduce Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015
Yesterday in the House and Senate, members of Congress introduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015. The bill numbers are H.R. 3625 and S.2096.…
Round-up of Dr. Rasmussen Coverage
Since the loss of Dr. Rasmussen a week and a half ago (see previous post here), multiple news outlets have ran pieces covering the contribution that…
Dr. Donald Rasmussen (1928-2015)
Over on Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center’s main site, we have a eulogy up for the late Dr. Rasmussen. “Mourning the passing of Dr. Donald Rasmussen, hero…
1975 Black Lung Song: Paul Williams – “Lord Help Me Get My Black Lung Check”
Below is a video that allows you to listen to an obscure song that takes a humorous approach to an Eastern Kentucky coal miner’s pursuit of…
ACLC Submits Comments in Support of DOL’s Proposed Medical Disclosure Rule for Black Lung Claims
Earlier this week, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, the nonprofit law center that publishes this blog and represents claimants in black lung benefits claims, submitted comments in…
Miners and Advocates Meet in Jolliet, PA Regarding Procedural Problems in Black Lung Benefits System
The Citizen Standard from Valley View, Pennsylvania has a story about a meeting in Joliett, Pennsylvania of active and retired miners as well as an attorney…
DOL Proposes Important Black Lung Procedural Rules Requiring Full Disclosure of Medical Evidence
Significant news in the world of federal black lung benefits: the Department of Labor has proposed changes to the procedural rules governing black lung benefits claims. …
Schedule for 2015 WV Black Lung Clinics Conference in Pipestem, WV
The brochure for the 2015 “Pipestem” conference from June 2 to 5, 2015 has been released (and is embedded and downloadable below). This year’s conference is…
Inspector General Criticizes Black Lung Program in Important Audit Concerning Backlog
Last week the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General released a significant—and critical—audit of the federal black lung benefits program’s procedures for deciding claims. The…