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 oversee the treatment for a workplace related injury. However, contrary to the workers’ compensation process in most states, the Federal Employees’ 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 the nearly 2 million federal employees, depriving them from receiving health care from their provider of choice as well as hindering timely access and continuity of care.

Urge your Senator to take up and pass the bipartisan House-passed legislation, H.R. 6087, the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act. This bill would authorize NPs to certify and oversee treatment for injured federal employees under FECA.