Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act

7/30/2024, 5:26 PM

Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act

This 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.

Congress
118

Number
HR - 618

Introduced on
2023-01-30

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

7/5/2024

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act

This 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.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to cover, for purposes of workers' compensation under such chapter, services by physician assistants and nurse practitioners provided to injured Federal workers, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Government Operations and Politics

Potential Impact
Disability assistance
Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Nursing
Worker safety and health

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary5/31/2023

Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act

This bill expands the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in providing services to injured federal workers under the federal workers' compens...


Latest Action7/5/2024
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 472.