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U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Matt Cartwright on Tuesday announced a push to reform the federal program that provides benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease.

According to a 2014 joint report by the Center for Public Integrity and ABC News, doctors who are paid by coal companies have “systematically misdiagnosed” miners afflicted with black lung, preventing them from receiving benefits.

The disease is caused by inhaling coal dust, which damages the lung and causes it to stiffen from scarring of the tissue between the air sacs. There is no known treatment for the disease, referred to medically as pneumoconiosis, but doctors are able to treat its symptoms and complications, according to the American Lung Association.

Much of Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, is known as a historic anthracite coal mining region.

Until a “basic measure of justice” is achieved for coal miners’ families, Casey, D-Scranton, said he will continue to push for reform.

“We know the black lung claims process is badly broken and in need of reform to target unethical legal and medical practices and to give miners a fair shot at justice,” Casey said in a news release.

“This is a commonsense approach that ensures impacted miners and their families don’t have the deck stacked against them.”

Casey co-authored the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015 along with Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia and Cartwright, D-Moosic.

“There is undeniable evidence that, as thousands of miners are being affected by black lung, coal company lawyers are determined to exploit loopholes preventing miners and their families from receiving the benefits they deserve,” Cartwright said in a written statement.

“This legislation is needed to ensure that miners are able to obtain unbiased medical evidence, ample representation, and up-to-date benefit payments.”

Among other improvements to black lung benefit programs, the legislation will require full disclosure of medical information related to a claim, whether such information is entered as evidence. It will also allow miners or their survivors to reopen their cases if they had been denied because of medical interpretations that have been discredited.

Casey
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Casey_Bob_2013_toned3.jpg.optimal.jpgCasey

Cartwright
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Cartwright-Matt2.jpg.optimal.jpgCartwright

By Joe Dolinsky

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Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL