Injured Federal Workers Get More Care Options: PAs and NPs Authorized for Workers' Comp Claims

This bill, the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025, is a straightforward but important update to how injured federal employees get medical care. Essentially, it amends the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to expand the list of authorized medical providers. When a federal worker gets hurt on the job, they can currently only use certain types of doctors for their workers’ comp claim. This bill adds Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to that list of authorized providers.

Modernizing the Care Team

For anyone who has tried to schedule a doctor’s appointment lately, this change is huge. The bill recognizes that PAs and NPs often serve as the primary care provider—or the fastest available provider—in modern healthcare, especially in clinics, rural areas, or specialized practices. By adding them to FECA, the bill immediately makes it easier for an injured federal employee to get treatment and have that treatment covered under their claim. This means less waiting around for an initial consultation or follow-up care, which is critical when dealing with a work injury.

The Fine Print on Scope of Practice

The bill isn't just a blanket authorization, though. It specifically defines these new providers as “other eligible providers” but ties their authority directly to State law. A PA or NP must be acting within the scope of their practice as defined by State law to be considered an authorized provider under FECA. This is a smart move that prevents confusion and ensures that the care provided—whether it’s diagnosing a sprained ankle or managing a complex chronic issue—meets established professional standards in that location. For an employee, this means their access expands, but the quality control remains intact.

Real-World Access and the Six-Month Clock

Think about a federal employee working in a remote area, maybe a park ranger or a Forest Service worker, where the nearest physician might be an hour away, but a well-staffed rural clinic with an NP is just down the road. Currently, that employee might have to wait or travel further just to see an authorized doctor to start their workers’ comp claim. This bill removes that barrier. It updates several sections of the FECA, including those covering medical services (Section 8103(a)) and the employee’s right to choose a physician (Section 8123(a)), to include these new providers.

To ensure this change rolls out smoothly, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to finalize all the necessary rules to implement these changes within six months of the Act becoming law. This hard deadline is good news for federal workers, as it pushes the bureaucracy to move quickly and modernize the system, ensuring that the expanded access is available sooner rather than later.