(b) No claimant shall be required to bear the financial responsibility for producing anexpert witness for cross-examination if such expert witness, regardless of his or her availability to attend the hearing, has previously submitted depositions, interrogatories, or medical reports. Such expert examination if such expert witness, regardless of his or her availability to attend the hearing, has previously submitted depositions, interrogatories, or medical reports. Such expert witness, if he or she is required to attend the hearing, respond to interrogatories or give a deposition, shall be summoned and shall have his or her expert witness fee paid by the party who summons such witness.
(c) If a claimant is determined entitled to benefits, there may be assessed as costs against a responsible operator, if any, fees and mileage for necessary witnesses attending the hearing at the request of the claimant. Both the necessity for the witness and the reasonableness of the fees of any expert witness shall be approved by the administrative law judge. The amounts awarded against a responsible operator as attorney's fees, or costs, fees and mileage for witnesses, shall not in any respect affect or diminish benefits payable under the Act.