2015 Annual Report to Congress Office of the Ombudsman Highlights

In 2004, Congress amended the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) and created the Office of the Ombudsman. The law requires the Ombudsman to file an annual report with Congress detailing “the number and types of complaints, grievances and request for assistance” the office received in the preceding years. The Ombudsman’s Office has submitted 10 reports since its creation. The latest was published for year ending 2015.

Not all complaints received by the office concerned the denial of a claim. The report also identified many difficulties claimants or their authorized representatives (AR) face after submitting a claim. Some of these issues are:

• Claimants being unaware of the information that is available online
• Locating employment records
• Locating exposure records
• Accuracy of the information on the Site Exposure Matrix (SEM)
• Qualifications of Department of Labor’s personnel who are responsible for reviewing medical evidence
• Lack of providers willing to participate in the program
• Reasons for denied medical bills not well-explained

The report acknowledges the efforts of various advocacy groups who sponsor outreach events, not only in areas close to a covered facility, but also in areas where former workers may now live. For over nine years, Cold War Patriots has provided information to former workers regarding the EEOICPA program through events such as Town Halls and Resource Fairs, the CWP website and the Help Center. With a membership now over 40,000, we are proud to have helped these deserving patriots and their families receive the benefits they have earned. If you, friends, or former co-workers might qualify for EEOICPA benefits and need more information, please call the Help Center at 1.877.335.0779.

To contact the Office of the Ombudsman, call 1-877-662-8363 or email [email protected].