Government affairs
Legislative Updates
Today, Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 3170).
The bill would expand access to providers by amending the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act to allow federal workers injured on the job to receive treatment from physician associates/physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). Current law prohibits PAs and NPs from treating federal workers in worker compensation cases.
Increasingly, PAs and NPs provide critical care to patients, especially in rural and underserved communities. This bill would increase the number of eligible providers, making it easier for injured federal workers, including letter carriers, to access the care they need.
“Postal employees account for nearly half of the claims made to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs each year, and letter carriers file most of these claims,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “Our jobs are physical, repetitive, and outdoors, which can lead to on-the-job injuries.
“If you are injured on the job, finding convenient care with the provider of your choice is the top priority. NALC supports this bill and calls on Congress to pass it,” he said.
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