A significant legislative push is underway to modernize the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), potentially removing one of the biggest hurdles injured federal workers face: finding a doctor. As reported by FEDweek, the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 3170) has advanced out of committee, signaling a major shift in how federal injury claims may be medically managed in the future.
For decades, an outdated definition of “physician” has bottlenecked claims, forcing injured employees to wait weeks or drive hundreds of miles to find an approved provider. This bill seeks to align federal workers’ comp with the reality of modern healthcare.
🏛️ The Core Issue: The “Physician” Bottleneck
Under current FECA law—which was originally enacted in 1916—only a “physician” can legally diagnose an injury, certify the extent of a disability, and oversee a patient’s care plan. The law defines “physician” strictly (e.g., surgeons, podiatrists, chiropractors, etc.) but notably excludes Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) from acting as primary providers.
This exclusion creates a massive access gap. In many rural areas and underserved communities, NPs and PAs are the primary care providers. When a federal employee gets hurt on the job in these areas, they currently cannot use their local clinic for FECA certification; they must find an MD or DO, often leading to delayed treatment and rejected claims.
📈 Sound Data: Why This Change is Critical
The push for H.R. 3170 is driven by hard data regarding the federal workforce and the healthcare landscape:
- 173,000+ Beneficiaries: In fiscal year 2025 alone, the FECA program provided over $3.13 billion in benefits to more than 173,000 workers and survivors.
- 79,000 New Cases: The Department of Labor reported over 79,000 new FECA cases in fiscal 2025. Every single one of these required a physician’s signature to move forward.
- The “Outlier” Status: FECA is currently an outlier in federal healthcare. Other major federal systems—including Medicare, the VA, and TRICARE—already allow NPs and PAs to oversee patient care within their state scope-of-practice laws. FECA’s restriction is a bureaucratic relic that no longer matches standard medical practice.
- Rural Healthcare Desert: According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), more than 100 million Americans live in areas with a shortage of primary care providers. By barring NPs and PAs, FECA effectively cuts off the only available medical lifeline for thousands of federal employees in these shortage areas.
💊 What the Bill Changes
If passed, H.R. 3170 (and its Senate companion S. 3296) would amend the definition of “medical services” under FECA to explicitly include services provided by Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners.
Key Impacts for Employees:
- Faster Diagnosis: You could visit your local urgent care or primary care clinic (often staffed by NPs/PAs) to get your initial injury certified immediately, rather than waiting for a specific “physician” appointment.
- Continuity of Care: If your primary provider is an NP, you wouldn’t have to switch doctors just because your injury happened at work.
- Reduced Delays: By widening the pool of eligible providers, the backlog of initial claim certifications could decrease, leading to faster wage-loss compensation payments.
🛡️ Medical Access is Only Step One. We Handle the Rest.
While this bill simplifies the medical side of a claim, the administrative side of FECA remains notoriously complex. A diagnosis from an NP is great, but it doesn’t guarantee your claim will be approved or that your compensation will be calculated correctly.
Internal Benefit Advisors specializes in the intersection of injury, disability, and retirement. We ensure that your medical access translates into financial security.
How We Support Your Injury Claim Strategy:
- FERS Disability vs. FECA Analysis: We help you determine if you should stay on Workers’ Comp or apply for FERS Disability Retirement. This decision has massive long-term implications for your pension and Social Security.
- Schedule Award Reviews: Even with a new doctor, you need to know if you are eligible for a “Schedule Award” for permanent impairment. We help you understand the specific medical evidence required to maximize this lump-sum benefit.
- OWCP to Retirement Transition: If your injury prevents a return to work, we guide you through the complex transition from Department of Labor payments to OPM retirement, ensuring you don’t face a gap in income.
The law is catching up to modern medicine. Make sure your personal financial plan is ahead of the curve.
Contact Internal Benefit Advisors today for a review of your injury benefits and retirement options.
References
- FEDweek. “Bill to Expand Treatment Options under FECA Advancing.” January 6, 2026.
- U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 3170 – Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025.
- Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Cost Estimate for H.R. 618 (118th Congress).
- Department of Labor (DOL). Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) FY 2025 Statistics.
- Internal Benefit Advisors. Retrieved from https://internalbenefitadvisors.com
