Currently, federal employees can select an NP as their health care provider under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the majority of states authorize NPs to provide the diagnosis and treatment for a workplace related injury. However, contrary to the workers’ compensation process in most states, the Federal Employee's Compensation Act (FECA) requires that only a physician can make the diagnosis, certify the injury and extent of the disability, and oversee the patient’s treatment and care. This barrier places an additional burden on federal employees, depriving them from receiving health care from their provider of choice as well as hindering timely access to care and continuity of care.

Urge your Members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 3170, the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act, which will authorize NPs to certify disabilities and oversee treatment for injured federal employees under FECA.