If you're a federal employee who gets injured on the job, your workers' compensation currently only covers treatment from a physician or osteopath — not from a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. This bill would change that by adding NPs and PAs as recognized providers under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. For the roughly 2 million federal civilian workers, it means more options for care, shorter wait times, and easier access to treatment — especially in rural areas where doctors may be scarce.
Congressional Summary
Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025This bill expands the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in providing services to injured federal workers under the federal workers' compensation program.Specifically, under the program, nurse practitioners and physician assistants acting within the scope of their practice may (1) prescribe or recommend treatment for injured federal workers; (2) certify the nature of an injury and probable extent of disability; (3) provide prescribed treatment for injured federal workers; and (4) participate, with a physician designated by the Department of Labor, in a mandatory workers' compensation examination of an injured worker. In general, only physicians may fulfill these roles under current law.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2025-12-04
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09