House Leader Seeks Revoke of Black-Lung Rule

U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) wants Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to rescind a final rule related to the workers’ compensation self-insurance by coal mine operators.
Walberg last week wrote to the new Labor official calling for her to rescind the Office of Workers Compensation Programs’ final rule — RIN 1240-AA16.
This final rule, which went into effect in January, revises the regulations under the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) governing authorization of self-insurers.
The updated regulations determine the process for coal mine operators to apply for authorization to self-insure, the requirements operators must meet to qualify to self-insure, the amount of security self-insured operators must provide, and the process for operators to appeal determinations made by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP).
“In your new role, I encourage you to consider the issues raised in this letter and to remain in proactive contact with the Committee as other agenda items arise,” the Michigan lawmaker said to Chavez-DeRemer in the letter.
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MedRisk said that its 2025 Trends Report found that provider consolidation into large health systems is accelerating medical inflation, while simultaneously enabling more complex billing practices that amplify cost increases is creating compounding negative effects across workers’ compensation market.
It found that provider organizations are strategically shifting from traditional HCFA 1500 forms toward UB-04 billing formats, a change that consistently yields higher reimbursements.
However, only 6.2% of bills are submitted using UB-04 formats, yet these bills drive 52% of total medical charges.
The Trends Report also found that workers’ compensation fee schedules, while designed for traditional billing patterns, frequently lack mechanisms to address strategic billing modifications.
The King of Prussia, Pennsylvania firm provides managed PT/OT/chiropractic care, diagnostic imaging services, and FCEs for the workers’ compensation industry.
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