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WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS  
WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS

13.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, 

2022

    

2021

(in thousands)

Beginning balance

$

53,448

$

54,739

Accruals increase

 

2,275

 

1,672

Payments

 

(2,804)

 

(2,410)

Interest accretion

 

287

 

232

Ending balance

$

53,206

$

54,233

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 on our insurance policy.  Our receivables for traumatic injury claims under this policy as of March 31, 2022 are $5.7 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, 

2022

    

2021

 

(in thousands)

Service cost

$

947

$

1,031

 

Interest cost (1)

 

747

 

636

Net amortization (1)

 

260

 

1,043

Net periodic benefit cost

$

1,954

$

2,710

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