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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-06-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1240-AA10</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201410</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1240</CODE>
            <NAME>Office of Workers&apos; Compensation Programs</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>OWCP</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1200</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Labor</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOL</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Black Lung Benefits Act:  Medical Evidence and Benefit Payments</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[OWCP is engaging in this rulemaking to address a variety of programmatic issues that have arisen in administering the Black Lung Benefits Act.  Among them, the current rules do not address whether the parties must disclose medical evidence they develop in connection with a claim for benefits and generally provide that payment for medical treatment and services is capped at the rate prevailing in the community where the service provider is located but provide no method for determining that rate.  To ensure that coal miners have full access to information about their health and to enhance the accuracy of entitlement determinations, this rule would address disclosure of medical evidence.  It would also amend rules governing payment of medical treatment and services to incorporate the fee schedule used in other OWCP-administered programs, and address a liable party's responsibility to pay benefits under an effective award while pursuing modification.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>20 CFR 725</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>30 USC 923(b)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>30 USC 932(a)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>30 USC 936</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>01/00/2015</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Undetermined</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Undetermined</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Michael</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Chance</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Director, Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1240</CODE>
                    <NAME>Office of Workers&apos; Compensation Programs</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>OWCP</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>800 347-2502</PHONE>
                <FAX>202 693-1395</FAX>
                <EMAIL>chance.michael@dol.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>200 Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Room C-3520,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20210</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
