Office of Workers' Compensation Programs April 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Black Lung Benefits Act: Disclosure of Medical Information and Payment of Benefits
Document Number: 2016-09525
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-04-26
Agency: Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
This final rule revises the regulations implementing the Black Lung Benefits Act to address certain procedural issues that have arisen in claim adjudications and other technical issues. To protect miners' health, assist parties without adequate legal representation, and enhance the accuracy of benefits entitlement decisions, the final rule includes a new provision that requires all parties to exchange with each other any medical information developed in connection with a claim for benefits and allows for the imposition of sanctions for failure to comply with the rule. The final rule also clarifies a liable coal mine operator's obligation to pay effective benefits awards by requiring payment before allowing the operator to challenge the award through the Act's modification procedures. In addition, the final rule resolves an ambiguity regarding how physicians' follow-up reports should be considered under the evidence-limiting rules, and 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.
Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment Request
Document Number: 2016-08505
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-04-13
Agency: Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
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) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. 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.
Claims for Compensation Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act
Document Number: 2016-07488
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-04-05
Agency: Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
The Department of Labor is reopening and extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking it published on November 18, 2015 (80 FR 72296). The Department originally allowed a 60-day comment period that was scheduled to close on January 19, 2016, but on that date extended the comment period another 30 days through February 18, 2016 (81 FR 2787). This notice indicates that the comment period is being reopened as of April 5, 2016 and extended for an additional period. The comment period for the information collection requirements in the proposed rule ended on December 18, 2015, and that period is not being reopened.
Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health Meeting
Document Number: 2016-07348
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-04-01
Agency: Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
The Advisory Board will meet April 26-28, 2016, in Washington, DC. Comments, requests to speak, submissions of materials for the record, and requests for special accommodations: You must submit (postmark, send, transmit) comments, requests to address the Advisory Board, speaker presentations, and requests for special accommodations for the meetings by April 19, 2016.
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