Rising Black Lung Cases Could Cost Miners’ Health Fund Billions (Corrected) (3)

Lower federal taxes on coal producers and declining coal production could create billions in deficits for a fund that pays for miners’ health care costs, according to a federal report.

The Government Accountability Office report, released June 4, raises pressure on lawmakers to increase an excise tax on coal companies that funds medical benefits for former miners with black lung disease. Under current law, companies will see the tax drop by more than half at the end of 2018 if Congress doesn’t act.

The Department of Labor’s Black Lung Benefits Program is funded by ...