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Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Town Hall Meeting Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Espanola, New Mexico February 20, 2013.

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Presentation on theme: "Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Town Hall Meeting Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Espanola, New Mexico February 20, 2013."— Presentation transcript:

1 Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Town Hall Meeting Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Espanola, New Mexico February 20, 2013

2 Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) History Operated by the University of California since its inception in 1945, LANL designed, developed and tested the world's first nuclear weapons. Operated by the University of California since its inception in 1945, LANL designed, developed and tested the world's first nuclear weapons. After World War II, LANL (called the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) continued as an important nuclear weapons research and development facility. Research programs included nuclear physics, hydrodynamics, chemistry, metallurgy, radiochemistry and life sciences. After World War II, LANL (called the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) continued as an important nuclear weapons research and development facility. Research programs included nuclear physics, hydrodynamics, chemistry, metallurgy, radiochemistry and life sciences. LANL also used its research facilities to back up other areas of the weapons production complex, particularly plutonium processing and fabrication of weapon components LANL also used its research facilities to back up other areas of the weapons production complex, particularly plutonium processing and fabrication of weapon components Department of Energy covered facility from 1942 through the present Department of Energy covered facility from 1942 through the present 1

3 2 Administration of the EEOICPA Part B (October 2000) Part B (October 2000) Part E (October 2004) Part E (October 2004) Agencies: Agencies: Department of Labor (DOL) Department of Labor (DOL) Department of Energy (DOE) Department of Energy (DOE) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Department of Justice (DOJ) Department of Justice (DOJ)

4 3 Part B: Who’s Eligible? Covered Employees Covered Employees DOE employees or its contractors/subcontractors DOE employees or its contractors/subcontractors Atomic Weapons Employers (AWE) Atomic Weapons Employers (AWE) Eligible Survivors Eligible Survivors Surviving spouse Surviving spouse Children – Regardless of age Children – Regardless of age Parents Parents Beryllium vendors (BV) RECA Section 5 awardees Grandchildren Grandparents

5 4 Part B: Covered Conditions Radiation induced cancer Radiation induced cancer Special Exposure Cohort Special Exposure Cohort Probability of Causation Probability of Causation Beryllium Disease Beryllium Disease Silicosis (for miners in Nevada and Alaska) Silicosis (for miners in Nevada and Alaska) “Supplement” for RECA Section 5 uranium workers “Supplement” for RECA Section 5 uranium workers

6 55 Means of Verifying Employment DOE DOE EE-5 Employment Verification Form EE-5 Employment Verification Form Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) Corporate Verifiers Corporate Verifiers SSA wage data SSA wage data Other Sources Other Sources Including affidavits and records or documents created by state and federal agencies Including affidavits and records or documents created by state and federal agencies

7 6 Part B: Radiation Induced Cancer Causation Dose Reconstruction Dose Reconstruction Conducted by NIOSH Conducted by NIOSH Level and extent of occupational radiation dose Level and extent of occupational radiation dose Probability of Causation (PoC) Probability of Causation (PoC) Scientific calculation of likelihood that radiation exposure caused cancer Scientific calculation of likelihood that radiation exposure caused cancer NIOSH-IREP NIOSH-IREP PoC - 50% or greater for award PoC - 50% or greater for award

8 7 Part B: Special Exposure Cohort Causation presumed for Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) members diagnosed with a “specified cancer” Causation presumed for Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) members diagnosed with a “specified cancer” NIOSH Dose Reconstruction is not needed NIOSH Dose Reconstruction is not needed “Specified” Cancer “Specified” Cancer 22 cancers named in law 22 cancers named in law

9 8 Part B: Adding New SEC Classes NIOSH designates new SEC classes NIOSH designates new SEC classes Worker Petition or Agency Decision Worker Petition or Agency Decision Advisory Board Assistance Advisory Board Assistance 4 statutory SEC classes (3 GDPs + Amchitka) 4 statutory SEC classes (3 GDPs + Amchitka) As of February 6, 2013, HHS has designated 99 additional SEC classes As of February 6, 2013, HHS has designated 99 additional SEC classes DOL administers SEC cases DOL administers SEC cases No role in designation No role in designation

10 9 LANL SEC CLASSES: There are 2 LANL SEC Classes There are 2 LANL SEC Classes 1 st SEC Class – Effective August 12, 2010 1 st SEC Class – Effective August 12, 2010 This SEC class subsumes all earlier SEC classes This SEC class subsumes all earlier SEC classes Qualifying Employment: Qualifying Employment: DOE employees, (or employees of predecessor agency – AEC) DOE employees, (or employees of predecessor agency – AEC) DOE contractors and subcontractors DOE contractors and subcontractors Worked at LANL in Los Alamos, New Mexico Worked at LANL in Los Alamos, New Mexico 250 workdays from March 15, 1943 through December 31, 1975 250 workdays from March 15, 1943 through December 31, 1975

11 10 New LANL SEC CLASS: SEC Class – Effective January 6, 2013 SEC Class – Effective January 6, 2013 Qualifying Employment: Qualifying Employment: DOE employees, (or employees of predecessor agency – AEC) DOE employees, (or employees of predecessor agency – AEC) DOE contractors and subcontractors DOE contractors and subcontractors Worked at LANL in Los Alamos, New Mexico Worked at LANL in Los Alamos, New Mexico 250 workdays from January 1, 1976 through December 31, 1995 250 workdays from January 1, 1976 through December 31, 1995

12 11 LANL SEC Claim Review Claims reviewed for SEC inclusion: Claims reviewed for SEC inclusion: Pending dose reconstruction at time of SEC class Pending dose reconstruction at time of SEC class Previously denied for POC <50% Previously denied for POC <50% Potentially affected cases identified – tracked to resolution Potentially affected cases identified – tracked to resolution Goals for each new SEC class to prioritize SEC acceptance Goals for each new SEC class to prioritize SEC acceptance

13 12 Part E: Who’s Eligible? Eligible Covered Employees Eligible Covered Employees DOE contractor or subcontractor employees DOE contractor or subcontractor employees Does NOT include DOE, AWE, and BV workers Does NOT include DOE, AWE, and BV workers Eligible Survivors Eligible Survivors Surviving Spouse Surviving Spouse Employee’s Children, if no surviving spouse, and if at the time of the employee’s death the child was: Employee’s Children, if no surviving spouse, and if at the time of the employee’s death the child was: Under the age of 18 Under the age of 18 Under the age of 23 and a full-time student, continuously enrolled in an educational institution since age 18 Under the age of 23 and a full-time student, continuously enrolled in an educational institution since age 18 Any age if medically incapable of self support Any age if medically incapable of self support

14 13 Part E: Illness from Toxic Exposure All conditions (not symptoms of conditions) are covered All conditions (not symptoms of conditions) are covered Must show that toxic exposure at a covered DOE facility was a significant factor in Must show that toxic exposure at a covered DOE facility was a significant factor in Causing, Contributing to, or Aggravating the claimed condition Causing, Contributing to, or Aggravating the claimed condition DOL will assist with verifying Part E toxic exposure DOL will assist with verifying Part E toxic exposure Claimant bears overall burden of proving his or her claim Claimant bears overall burden of proving his or her claim

15 14 Part E: Means of Verifying Toxic Exposure DOL Resource Centers DOL Resource Centers Occupational History Questionnaires (OHQ) Occupational History Questionnaires (OHQ) Site Exposure Matrices (SEM) Site Exposure Matrices (SEM) Identifies toxic substances related to labor categories, processes, buildings, and major incidents Identifies toxic substances related to labor categories, processes, buildings, and major incidents Website available at www.sem.dol.gov Website available at www.sem.dol.govwww.sem.dol.gov DOE Document Acquisition Request (DAR) DOE Document Acquisition Request (DAR) Claimant Records Claimant Records

16 15 Part E: Employee Impairment Determination of % permanent whole person impairment due to covered illness Determination of % permanent whole person impairment due to covered illness AMA’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5 th Edition AMA’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5 th Edition $2,500 awarded for each % of impairment $2,500 awarded for each % of impairment

17 16 Part E: Employee Wage Loss Medical evidence must show decreased capacity to work Medical evidence must show decreased capacity to work Employee Compensation: Employee Compensation: Any year <50% of the pre-disability annual wage = $15,000 compensation Any year <50% of the pre-disability annual wage = $15,000 compensation Any year > 50% but 50% but <75% of the pre-disability annual wage = $10,000 compensation

18 17 Benefits Part B Part E $150,000 Employee + Survivor Impairment $2,500 per % (Employee) $50,000 RECA Employee + Survivor Wage Loss $10,000 - $15,000 per year (Employee) $125,000 Survivor (+ lump-sum Wage Loss if eligible) $400,000 CAP for B+E combined

19 18 Decision Process Recommended Decision – District Office Recommended Decision – District Office Preliminary determination Preliminary determination Cover letter, decision, and rights to object (oral hearing/review of written record) Cover letter, decision, and rights to object (oral hearing/review of written record) Final Decision – Final Adjudication Branch (FAB) Final Decision – Final Adjudication Branch (FAB) Affirmation of recommend decision or remand based on objection/independent review Affirmation of recommend decision or remand based on objection/independent review Claimant Rights – Reconsideration & Reopening Claimant Rights – Reconsideration & Reopening

20 19 Claimant Responsibilities File Claim File Claim Collect/Copy/Submit relevant records Collect/Copy/Submit relevant records Respond to information requests Respond to information requests Talk to co-workers – get affidavits Talk to co-workers – get affidavits Seek assistance if you need help – call Resource Center Seek assistance if you need help – call Resource Center Review decision and information for appeal Review decision and information for appeal

21 20 Claimant Resources Resource Centers – 11 locations Resource Centers – 11 locations Espanola Resource Center toll free number: (866) 272-3622 Espanola Resource Center toll free number: (866) 272-3622 District Offices – 4 locations District Offices – 4 locations Seattle District Office toll free number: (888) 805-3401 Seattle District Office toll free number: (888) 805-3401 DEEOIC web site DEEOIC web site http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/ http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/ General program information General program information SEM website SEM website Forms Forms Sample decisions Sample decisions

22 21 EEOICPA Compensation $9 Billion Total Compensation $9 Billion Total Compensation $4.8 Billion Part B $4.8 Billion Part B $2.84 Billion Part E $2.84 Billion Part E $1.38 Billion Medical $1.38 Billion Medical Data as of February 3, 2013

23 22 Los Alamos National Laboratory Compensation $342.6 Million Total Compensation $342.6 Million Total Compensation $179.1 Million Part B $179.1 Million Part B $126.8 Million Part E $126.8 Million Part E $36.7 Million Medical $36.7 Million Medical Data as of February 3, 2013

24 23 District Office Jurisdictional Map

25 24

26 Questions?


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