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“Johns Hopkins Medicine said Wednesday that it has discontinued its black lung program, the subject of…an investigation that showed how coal companies routinely beat back sick coal miners’ disability claims with help from doctors at the nationally recognized hospital.”
Breathless and Burdened
Johns Hopkins terminates black lung program
Unit subject of Center for Public Integrity-ABC investigation
article by Jamie Smith Hopkins / September 30, 2015
Miners diagnosed with black lung — an incurable and potentially fatal disease triggered by breathing coal dust — can apply for benefits and medical care through a federal program. But the coal companies liable for those payments, aided by doctors and lawyers, have pushed back to get claims denied, the Center [The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit organization] and ABC News found…
Dr. Paul Wheeler, who headed the Johns Hopkins unit, has retired…Wheeler did not find a single case of severe black lung in the more than 1,500 cases decided since 2000 in which he offered an opinion…
Filed under: energy, Labor, News, politics, public health, safety Tagged: | Black Lung, Black Lung benefits, Black Lung Benefits Program, coal miners, conspiracy, Dr. Paul Wheeler, Government conspiracy, John Hopkins, medical establishment, Paul Wheeler
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