Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC)
The Federal Black Lung Program requires approval of the pre-evaluation processes for lung transplants and the lung transplant itself for Black Lung beneficiaries (20 CFR 725.706).
Information about an individual's general eligibility for medical benefits may be obtained by calling the District Office where the patient's claim file is located, or by calling the Black Lung toll-free number at 800-638-7072. Eligibility for medical benefits does not automatically include approval for a pre-evaluation or a lung transplant.
Before seeking approval for a pre-evaluation or a lung transplant, a medical center must be approved as a lung transplant center by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or the request will automatically be denied. The list of approved transplant centers is available from CMS, and may be seen online at https://www.cms.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/ApprovedTransplantPrograms.pdf.
Approved lung transplant centers must determine if the patient's medical benefits are the responsibility of a coal mine operator or insurer or the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. The patient should have this information. In order for a pre-evaluation or transplant to be considered, it must be necessitated by the coal miner's black lung condition and directly related conditions. If the patient is covered by an insurer or coal mine operator, you must obtain that company's approval prior to a pre-evaluation or transplant. Pre-evaluation and transplant coverage is decided on a case-by-case basis. We expect coal mine operators or insurers to provide the same coverage we do. The documentation that coal mine operators or insurers require to determine whether or not they will approve coverage may vary.
If the patient is covered by the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, only the Chief, Branch of Policy Analysis & Program Standards of the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation has the authority to grant approval of a pre-evaluation or a transplant. You must initiate the approval process by contacting DCMWC-Public@dol.gov or by calling our toll free number 800-347-2502.
The pre-evaluation request must include:
- Name of the hospital in which the lung transplant would occur
- The hospital's pre-evaluation protocol
- The hospital's lung transplant protocol
- List of procedure codes
- Post-op care services described in detail (with procedure codes)
The referring physician must be a board certified pulmonary medicine physician.
You will be asked to submit:
- Copies of medical records for the past twenty-four months (in chronological order)
- A list and written impression of all diagnostic studies in the past 2 years, and the most recent pulmonary related studies (eg., CT, MRI, sonogram, etc.) if the study was not done within the past 2 years
- A comprehensive narrative report that must address the claimant's:
- Current chief complaint
- A narrative history of the claimant's pneumoconiosis and medical management to the current date of service
- Past medical history
- Social history (including smoking, drug abuse, social support, etc.)
- Family medical history
- Comprehensive review of symptoms
- Relevant physical findings
- Relevant diagnostic studies
- All diagnoses and medical conditions
- Medical assessment and recommendation for future medical management that includes the following:
- Summary of the claimant's current health status, medical management, relevant history and options for future medical management.
- The referring physician will need to review the "International Guidelines for the Selection of Lung Transplant Candidates: 2006 Update" and will need to address the Patient Selection Section (Indications, General Contraindications, and Timing of Referral) and any items in "DISEASE-SPECIFIC LUNG TRANSPLANTATION CONSIDERATIONS" section that apply.
- We must receive a report that addresses all items under the Patient Selection Section and the "DISEASE-SPECIFIC LUNG TRANSPLANTATION CONSIDERATIONS" section that applies.
- If the referring pulmonary medicine physician believes a different consensus guideline is more appropriate, instead of the "International Guidelines for the Selection of Lung Transplant Candidates: 2006 Update," the physician must identify the guideline to the Black Lung program, explain why the guideline is more appropriate than the 2006 International guidelines, and provide the Black Lung program with a report using the proposed guideline. Black Lung will decide on a case by case basis whether the utilization of a different guideline will be approved.
- Importantly, the pulmonary physician must clearly state that given the available information, whether the claimant's life expectancy after transplantation would exceed life expectancy without the procedure.
After the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation evaluates the information you provide, you will be notified of DCMWC's decision on coverage. Any pre-evaluation or transplant (unilateral/bilateral) performed prior to receiving an approval by the Federal Black Lung Program will be denied.
If you have any questions about pre-evaluations or transplants, you may contact the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation at DCMWC-Public@dol.gov or by calling our toll-free number 800-347-2502.