Notice2025-03421
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Disclosure of Medical Evidence
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentWorkers' Compensation Programs Office
Abstract
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request helps to ensure that: requested data can be provided in the desired format; reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized; collection instruments are clearly understood; and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the OWCP is soliciting comments on the information collection for Disclosure of Medical Evidence.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11191-11192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03421]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
[OMB Control No. 1240-0054]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Disclosure of
Medical Evidence
AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request
helps to ensure that: requested data can be provided in the desired
format; reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized;
collection instruments are clearly understood; and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the OWCP is soliciting comments on the information
collection for Disclosure of Medical Evidence.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before May 5, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following
way:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for [OWCP-2025-0002].
Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will be posted to the docket, with no changes.
Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for
ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential
business information.
<bullet> If your comment includes confidential information that you
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a
written/paper submission.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the
following way:
<bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-OWCP, Division of
Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, 200 Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20210.
<bullet> OWCP will post your comment as well as any attachments,
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the
docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjanette Suggs, Office of Office of
Workers' Compensation Programs, at (202) 354-9660 (phone) or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98ebedffffebb6f9f6f2f9f6fdececfdd8fcf7f4b6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5427213333277a353a3e353a3120203114303b387a333b22">[email protected]</span></a> (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Department's regulations implementing the Black Lung Benefits
Act (BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., require parties to exchange all
medical information about the miner they develop in connection with a
claim for benefits, including information the parties do not intend to
submit as evidence in the claim. See 20 CFR 725.413. The rule helps
protect a miner's health, assist unrepresented parties, and promote
accurate benefit determinations. The potential parties to a BLBA claim
include the benefits claimant, the responsible coal mine operator and
its insurance carrier, and the Director, Office of Workers'
Compensation Programs (OWCP). Under this rule, a party or a party's
agent who receives medical information about the miner must send a copy
to all other parties within 30 days after receipt or, if a hearing
before an administrative law judge has already been scheduled, at least
20 days before the hearing. The exchanged information is entered into
the record of the claim only if a party submits it into evidence.
[[Page 11192]]
The Department's authority to engage in information collection is
specified in BLBA sections 413(b), 422(a), and 426(a). See 30 U.S.C.
923(b), 932(a), and 936(a).
II. Desired Focus of Comments
OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to the Disclosure of Medical Evidence. OWCP is
particularly interested in comments that:
Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether
the information has practical utility; Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP's
estimate of the burden related to the information collection, including
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and Minimize the burden of the information
collection on those who are to respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of responses.
Documents related to this information collection request are
available at <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> and at DOL-OWCP located at 200
Constitution Avenue NW, Room C-3520, Washington, DC 20210. Questions
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact section of this
notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns Disclosure of Medical
Evidence. OWCP has updated the data with respect to the number of
respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this
information collection request from the previous information collection
request.
Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
OMB Number: 1240-0054.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 6,797.
Number of Responses:6979.
Annual Burden Hours: 1,135 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $16,041.
OWCP Forms: DCMWC Form, Disclosure of Medical Evidence.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of
public record and will be available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Anjanette C. Suggs,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-03421 Filed 3-3-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 4, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.