Office of Workers' Compensation Programs – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Notice of Controversion of Right to Compensation.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

Announcement of meeting of the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health (Advisory Board) for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

On December 14, 2020, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) published a direct final rule in the Federal Register revising regulations governing electronic filing and settlements, and establishing new procedures for assessing and adjudicating penalties under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). Consistent with the Presidential directive as expressed in the memorandum of January 20, 2021, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' OWCP is withdrawing the direct final rule.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Health Insurance Claim Form.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Claim for Medical Reimbursement Form.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) is publishing this final rule to adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced by the Department, pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act). The Inflation Adjustment Act requires the Department to annually adjust its civil money penalty levels for inflation no later than January 15 of each year. The Inflation Adjustment Act provides that agencies shall adjust civil monetary penalties notwithstanding Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Additionally, the Inflation Adjustment Act provides a cost- of-living formula for adjustment of the civil penalties. Accordingly, this final rule sets forth the Department's 2021 annual adjustments for inflation to its civil monetary penalties.

The Department of Labor (Department or DOL) is issuing this Direct Final Rule to require electronic filing (e-filing) and make acceptance of electronic service (e-service) automatic for attorneys and non-attorney representatives representing parties in proceedings before the Administrative Review Board (Board), unless the Board authorizes non-electronic filing and service for good cause. Self- represented persons will have the option of e-filing or of filing papers by conventional means. This rule establishes a new part containing rules of practice and procedure for the Board and amends existing regulations concerning filing and service that apply where a governing statute or executive order does not establish contrary rules of filing and service. It also makes other minor corrections to update existing regulations.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension of the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Representative Payee Report, Representative Payee Report (Short Form), and Physician's/Medical Officer's Statement.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its extensions. To improve program administration, OWCP proposes to amend its existing regulations to require parties to file documents electronically, unless otherwise provided by statute or allowed by OWCP, and to streamline the settlement process. Additionally, to promote accountability and ensure fairness, OWCP proposes new rules for imposing and reviewing civil money penalties prescribed by the Longshore Act. The new rules will set forth the procedures to contest OWCP's penalty determinations.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection requests (ICRs) titled, ``Report of Changes that May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits'' (Forms CM-929 and CM-929P). This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Advisory Board will meet November 5-6, 2020, via teleconference, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 5 and from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 6.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Pre-Hearing Statement.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Roentgenographic Interpretation'' (Form CM-933), ``Roentgenographic Quality Rereading'' (Form CM-933a), ``Medical History and Examination for Coal Mine Workers' Pneumoconiosis'' (Form CM-988 and CM-988a), ``Report of Arterial Blood Gas Study'' (Form CM-1159), and ``Report of Ventilatory Study'' (Form CM-2907). This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Employer's First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease (LS-202), Employer's Supplementary Report of Accident or Occupational Illness (LS-210)''. This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Description of Coal Mine Work and Other Employment'' (Form CM-913). This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Application for Continuation of Death Benefit for Student.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Office of Management and Budget has directed the Secretary of Labor to publish a memorandum on the PEER Initiative in the Federal Register, as part of the President's Management AgendaModernizing Government for the 21st Century and the President's Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand. Federal agencies and the United States Postal Service are expected to improve or maintain performance in seven areas related to work-related injuries.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. This information collection request (ICR) seeks approval under the PRA for the continued use of the revised Provider Enrollment Form (Form OWCP-1168). The form requests profile information on providers that enroll in one or more of OWCP's benefit programs so its billing contractor can pay them for services rendered to beneficiaries using its automated bill processing system. In addition to the enrollment form information collection, the OWCP bill processing contractor currently collects electronic data interchange (EDI) information from the provider only if the provider chooses a data exchange submission method. Once the new OWCP-1168 form is in place, the existing EDI template will no longer be applicable. The current EDI template collects information that is duplicative to information collected on Form OWCP-1168, such as names, addresses, and NPI. Collecting EDI information with the enrollment information in one form will improve efficiency in collecting the information from providers, reduce the time required for processing by operational staff, and will significantly reduce errors associated with mismatching provider enrollments to their EDI information. This ICR will be submitted to OMB to allow for the continued use of the revised Provider Enrollment Form (Form OWCP-1168) and to incorporate regulatory updates implementing the Black Lung benefits Act which becomes applicable on April 26, 2020. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Notice of Law Enforcement Officer's Injury or Occupational Disease and Notice of Law Enforcement Officer's Death.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act (CA- 278). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Survivor's Form For Benefits Under The Black Lung Benefits Act.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Certification by School Official (CM-981). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Claim for Compensation by Dependents Information Reports (CA-5, CA-5b, CA-1031, CA-1074, Letter of Compensation Due at Death, and Letter of Student/Dependency). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Death Gratuity Forms CA-40, CA-41, and CA-42. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Black Lung Benefits Act provides benefits to miners who are totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis arising out of coal mine employment and to certain miners' survivors. Determining benefits entitlement necessarily entails evaluating the miner's physical condition, particularly his or her respiratory system. These evaluations usually involve medical tests that assess the miner's respiratory capacity. To promote accuracy when tests are conducted in connection with a claim, the program regulations set out quality standards for administering and interpreting two commonly used tests: pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas studies. The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is considering updating the quality standards, which were last amended in 2000, to better reflect current medical technology and practice. This request for information seeks the public's input on current standards for administering pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas studies; criteria used to evaluate the results of these tests; whether OWCP should adopt quality standards for additional testing methods; and the economic impact of any changes to the quality standards.