WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS

WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS

15.WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS

The changes in the workers' compensation liability, including current and long-term liability balances, for each of the periods presented were as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024		2023
Beginning balance	$	47,975	$	49,452
Changes in accruals		3,125		3,874
Payments		(4,048)		(3,859)
Interest accretion		509		550
Ending balance	$	47,561	$	50,017

We limit our exposure to traumatic injury claims by purchasing a high deductible insurance policy that starts paying benefits after deductibles for a claim have been met.  The deductible level may vary by claim year.  Our workers' compensation liability above is presented on a gross basis and does not include our expected receivables from our insurance policy.  Our receivables for traumatic injury claims under this policy as of March 31, 2024 are $4.1 million and are included in Other long-term assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Certain of our mine operating entities are liable under state statutes and the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as amended, to pay pneumoconiosis, or black lung, benefits to eligible employees and former employees and their dependents.  Components of the net periodic benefit cost for each of the periods presented are as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Black lung benefits:
Service cost	$	861	$	669
Interest cost (1)		1,558		1,238
Net amortization (1)		839		346
Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,258	$	2,253

(1) Interest cost and net amortization are included in the Other income (expense) line item within our condensed consolidated statements of income.