Injured Federal Workers Can Now See PAs and NPs for Comp Claims: Cutting Down Wait Times

The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act is a straightforward update to the system that handles on-the-job injuries for federal employees. Essentially, this bill modernizes the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) by expanding who counts as a recognized medical provider. If you’re a federal worker and you get hurt on the job, you’ll soon have more choices for who can treat you and sign off on your care.

The FECA Provider List Just Got Longer

Historically, FECA coverage has been centered around the services of a “physician.” This new law changes that by adding “other eligible provider,” which specifically means a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or a Physician Assistant (PA). This isn't a blanket approval, though—the bill is clear that these PAs and NPs must be practicing within the scope of practice allowed by their specific state laws (SEC. 2). Think of it like this: If your state allows an NP to order certain tests or prescribe certain medications, they can now do the same for your workers’ comp claim under FECA.

This is a big deal for access. For years, PAs and NPs have been the backbone of primary care, especially in rural areas or busy clinics, often serving as the first point of contact for injuries. By formally including them, the law acknowledges their critical role. For an injured federal employee needing follow-up care or an initial examination, this means potentially skipping the weeks-long wait to see a doctor and getting in to see a qualified PA or NP much faster. That speed can make a huge difference in recovery and getting back to work.

What This Means for Your Claim

The bill makes “conforming changes” throughout the relevant section of the U.S. Code, meaning that wherever the old law said “physician” regarding covered services, examinations, or the initial choice of doctor, it now also includes a PA or NP. This means that when you file your claim, the medical documentation, treatment plans, and certifications from your PA or NP will carry the same weight as those from a doctor, provided they are acting within their state-defined authority.

For example, if you work for the Post Office and strain your back lifting heavy packages, you can now choose to see a PA at an urgent care clinic for your initial FECA-covered visit, rather than needing to find a doctor who accepts workers’ comp. This removes a significant administrative bottleneck. The core challenge now sits with the Department of Labor: the Secretary of Labor has a strict deadline of six months from the bill becoming law to finalize all the necessary rules and regulations to put this change into effect (SEC. 2). How quickly and smoothly those rules are rolled out will determine how fast federal workers actually feel the benefit of this increased access.