Bipartisan black lung bill pre-filed in Frankfort

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – A bipartisan bill was pre-filed for the upcoming legislative session in Frankfort designed to help coal miners suffering from black lung disease.

Democratic Representative Angie Hatton, of Letcher County and Republican Representative Robert Goforth, of Laurel County, pre-filed the bill.

It would roll back sections of a new workers’ comp law that limits the number of state-certified doctors eligible to diagnose black lung disease.

The bill would allow the state to contract with any doctor trained to diagnose the disease.