The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has awarded over $11.2 million to 15 recipients for the 2020-2025 Black Lung Clinics Program (BLCP). The purpose of this program is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with occupationally-related coal mine dust lung disease through the provision of quality medical, outreach, educational, and benefits counseling services for active, inactive, retired, and disabled US coal miners. In an effort to address current disease trends, the program includes an emphasis on Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis & Progressive Massive Fibrosis.
Additionally, one cooperative agreement has been awarded to the University of Illinois at Chicago for the Black Lung Data and Resource Center (BLDRC). The purpose of this program is to strengthen the operations of BLCP recipients through programmatic assistance and improved data collection and analysis related to the health status and needs of U.S. coal miners.