The Court of Claims, on its own motion or upon the written request of any applicant, may modify an award of compensation made under this Act or reconsider a denial of compensation. No hearing need be held, however, unless the written request states facts which were not known to the applicant or by the exercise of reasonable diligence could not have been ascertained by him or her at the time of the entry of the order or determination sought to be modified and which would have directly affected whether or not compensation should be awarded and, if so, the amount of that compensation.