Black lung clinic to hold application workshop
 |
Forehand looks at a lung x-ray |
August 10, 2012 ·
Black lung disease in both surface and underground coal miners is getting worse and being under-diagnosed.
That's the word
from the Tug River Black Lung Clinic in Gary, McDowell County. The clinic and its leading physician Dr.
Randy Forehand was profiled in a recent investigation by NPR into the rise of
black lung disease in coal miners.
On
Monday, the clinic will hold an event to assist miners with applying for
federal black lung benefits. The event
is being held from 10 am to 4 pm at the new River View High School in Bradshaw.
Dr. Forehand says all coal miners are urged
to attend to meet with representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Dr. Randy Forehand is a designated black lung examining physician
for the U.S. Department of Labor. He
treats miners with black lung disease at the Tug River Black Lung clinic in McDowell County. He says Congress must rewrite laws regulating
dust levels in coal mines.
Details of black lung benefits are on the
Department of Labor's website. Benefits
begin at $625 a month. Each coal
mine operator is required to pay an excise tax on coal sold.
The current
tax rate is $1.10 per ton for underground-mined coal and 55 cents for
surface-mined coal. Proceeds from this tax finance the Black Lung Disability
Trust Fund, which pays the cost of administering the Black Lung Benefits Act
and, in certain cases, benefits to eligible claimants.