Bipartisan Bill to Improve Health Care Access for Federal Workers Advances in the House
WASHINGTON – This week, the House Committee on Education and Workforce advanced (36-0) Rep. Courtney (D-CT), a senior member of the Committee, and Rep. Tim Walberg’s (R-MI), Committee Chairman, bill to improve health care access for injured federal workers.
The bipartisan Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 3170) would amend the Federal Employees Compensation Act to allow injured workers to receive treatment for work-related injuries from state-licensed physician assistants/physician associates (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). Current law prohibits federal workers from being treated by PAs and NPs for federal worker compensation cases.
“At a time when communities all across the country are facing a real shortage of health care providers, removing the barriers for federal workers to receive the quality care they need, get healthy, and get back on the job is a commonsense reform for Congress to make,” said Rep. Courtney. “Our bipartisan bill would tweak antiquated policies to enable Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to treat federal workers workplace injuries and be reimbursed under FECA. In 2025, the reality of NPs and PAs as primary and specialized care providers is something we all experience. This change is past time. Chairman Walberg and I teamed up in 2022 to pass our bill in the House, and now, by advancing it early in 119th Congress, I look forward to getting it across the finish line.”
“Delays in care mean delays in injured workers returning to their jobs,” said Chairman Walberg.“ The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act would allow physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) to fill the provider gap, improving access to care for those who may not have access to an approved provider within a reasonable distance and getting federal employees back to work quicker. I am pleased to see the Education and Workforce Committee’s passage of this bill, which will make our government more efficient.”
"The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act amends the Federal Employees Compensation Act to ensure that injured federal employees, particularly in rural areas, get the care they need from state-licensed physician assistants and nurse practitioners for their work-related injuries,” said Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and the Workforce. “This bill is an important step to modernize federal workers’ compensation without compromising the rights of injured workers to receive an adequate remedy for their injury."
Connecticut’s Second Congressional District is home to over 10,500 federal workers, according to theU.S. Census Bureau, ranging from employees at the Groton Submarine Base to the Social Security Administration and postal workers. With such a large population of federal workers, nearly twice as many as any other Congressional District in the state, this bill is particularly important to meeting eastern Connecticut’s health care needs.
This bill is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Letter Carriers, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Association of Physician Associates, the American Nurses Association, the National Rural Health Association, the Nursing Community Coalition, and the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group.
“The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), on behalf of the over 431,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) nationwide, commends Chairman Walberg and Representative Courtney for their leadership on the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025,” said AANP President, Valerie J. Fuller, PhD, DNP. “This important legislation will help ensure federal employees receive the care they need from their chosen health care provider when they are injured at work by authorizing an NP to certify the workplace injury or illness, as well as oversee their care in the federal workers’ compensation program. Yesterday’s bipartisan passage of this bill out of committee highlighted the critical need to update the federal workers’ compensation program to better reflect delivery of care in our nation. AANP urges House Leadership to bring this bill up for a vote to improve access to health care for federal employees.”
“The unanimous support from the House Education and Workforce Committee for this legislation signals Congress’ understanding that outdated restrictions on PA care are impacting access to healthcare for federal workers,” said American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) President and Chair of the Board of Directors Jason Prevelige, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA. “AAPA commends Rep. Courtney, Chairman Walberg, and Ranking Member Scott for their efforts to advance this legislation and for their continued commitment to moving this legislation forward.” “NALC fully supports H.R. 3170,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “When a letter carrier, or any federal employee, is injured on the job, finding quality, convenient, and timely care is essential. NALC appreciates the committee’s consideration of the bill and urges Congress to pass it.”
The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act passed the House in the 117th Congress with strong bipartisan support. Now, with committee passage completed less than 6 months into the 119th Congress, H.R. 3170 has a long runway to become law.
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