UPDATE: As Corporate Black Lung Fund Dries Up, Coal Miners' Disease Rates Soar
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UPDATE — July 20, 2018: A brand new study finds that one in five working coal miners in central Appalachia who have worked at least 25 years now suffers from black lung disease, which is incurable and fatal.
That’s the highest rate that’s been recorded in 25 years.
Rates of the most severe form of black lung are also higher than ever.
The researchers wrote:
“We can think of no other industry or workplace in the United States in which this would be considered acceptable.”
What's the story?
- The fund that helps to cover coal miners’ medical expenses when they develop black lung may need a taxpayer bailout, just as black lung rates are surging.
Why does it matter?
- The Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is funded by a tax on coal companies, which the coal lobby opposes.
- According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the Fund is at risk of insolvency because of soaring debt and a tax cut scheduled for the end of the year that will slash coal-company contributions by 55 percent.
- The Fund is already more than $4.3 billion in debt, and demand for benefits keeps growing as deadly black lung cases are spiking to unprecedented levels.
- The shortfall could force the Fund to restrict benefits or shift some of the financial burden to taxpayers.
- The only projection in the GAO report that yields no debt, avoids borrowing more money from taxpayers, and continues to pay benefits, requires a 25 percent spike in the coal tax, rather than the planned cut.
- The National Mining Association opposes any such move, saying, “Industry should not be subjected to a tax increase due to government mismanagement of a program.”
- The NMA has also claimed that the Fund is being used to cover smoking-related illnesses, despite having no data to support this claim. Medical experts say black lung is easy to distinguish from smoking-related ailments.
What do you think?
Who should pay for medical expenses related to black lung: industry, taxpayers, or miners? Hit Take Action, then share your thoughts below.
—Sara E. Murphy
(Photo Credit: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
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