Guidelines for Physician Panel Determinations on Worker Requests for Assistance in Filing for State Worker's Compensation Benefits; Procedural Amendments

In order to expedite the handling of applications submitted by contractor employees or their survivors to the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Worker Advocacy for assistance in pursuing workers' compensation under State law for illness or death arising from exposure to toxic substances at a DOE workplace, DOE today publishes and makes immediately effective certain procedural amendments. Today's procedural amendments will help streamline the processing of applications submitted to DOE under part D of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 ("EEOICPA"). The amendments reduce from three to one the minimum number of physicians required for an affirmative physician panel determination in most instances. To ensure that the procedural amendments in today's rule accomplish their purpose, DOE invites public comment on today's rule.