Rep. Courtney’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Health Care Access Advances in the House
Courtney spotlights real examples of how current law fails federal workers Bill improves care for nearly 8,000 federal workers in CT
NORWICH, CT – In another bipartisan win, the Committee on Education and the Workforce recently advanced (36-0) Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Tim Walberg’s (R-MI) legislation to improve health care access for injured federal workers.
The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 618) amends the Federal Employees Compensation Act to ensure injured federal employees, especially those in rural areas can get the appropriate care they need from state-licensed physician assistants and nurse practitioners when they are hurt on the job.
Connecticut has 8,000 federal employees, ranging from postal workers to Social Security Administration professionals, to those at SUBASE New London. Moreover, roughly 85 percent of all federal workers in the state are based out of Congressman Courtney’s Congressional District. Given this robust population of federal workers, there’s no question that this legislation is particularly important to meeting the health care needs of Connecticut residents.
“Right now, injured federal workers can only receive the care they’re entitled to if it’s provided by a physician, and only a physician can certify a workers compensation claim. Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are a growing portion of the primary care and health care workforce nationwide, especially in rural areas. Many patients are perfectly comfortable being treated by NPs and PAs, and many may be able to be treated by an NP or a PA much more quickly than a physician. Given the challenges some patients have in accessing their federal workers’ compensation benefits, allowing these providers to be reimbursed for the care they provide workers compensation patients within the scope of their practice is an extremely commonsense improvement,” Courtney said describing the problem.
“Healthcare professionals are critical to the health and well-being of communities around the country, and federal employees should be no exception,” said Committee on Education & the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott. “An outdated law should not prevent wounded workers from receiving the appropriate treatment they need when they are harmed on the job. Amending the Federal Employees Compensation Act is a key step toward ensuring workers can get back to work and continue to provide for their families.”
“Our bipartisan legislation expands health care choices for injured workers who qualify for benefits under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, allowing these workers to see the provider that best suits their needs. Current restrictions under the FECA program are outdated and do not reflect the critical role nurse practitioners and physician assistants play in providing access to timely health care. Sadly, because of these outdated restrictions, we have heard stories of injured workers delaying care or having to drive hundreds of miles to find an approved physician. This is unacceptable. Our bill updates federal law to enable nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide care under the FECA program, creating more choices for injured workers,” said Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI).
The shortfalls the lawmakers described have real consequences on federal workers across the nation.
One patient from Seattle, Washington could not find a second opinion physician neurologist for an independent medical exam anywhere in-state, and had to travel out of state to Tigard, Oregon, 183 miles from home, to receive the second opinion required for their case, despite this person having a “no-driving” restriction due to their injury.
Another patient sustained a slip and fall injury. Their claim was denied because the medical report was signed by a Physician’s Assistant. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs could not accept the initial diagnosis, which meant the patient had to delay imaging and care. The injury was sustained on November 12, 2021. Their claim was not ultimately approved until August 2022 when the same exact report was eventually counter-signed by a physician with no changes.
Ultimately, current law is potentially exacerbating patients’ injuries, and delaying their recovery and their return to work.
The recent bipartisan action in the Committee is a very encouraging step to getting this bill signed into law, Courtney described during Committee debate on the bill.
“This measure was brought up in the last Congress and it passed out of the Committee unanimously, and then passed on the House Floor 325-83. Unfortunately, it stalled out in the Senate but those bipartisan numbers – and the action from the Committee this year – demonstrate powerful bipartisan support,” Courtney said on the bill’s path forward. “I want to salute Mr. Walberg for his strong partnership over the last number of Congresses to advance this measure forward.”
“I want to thank Rep. Courtney for his longstanding partnership, and with a unanimous vote in committee, we’re eager to see its swift passage by the full House,” Walberg concluded.
This bill is endorsed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants, as well as a diverse coalition of unions representing federal employees such as the National Treasury Employee Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union.
To read letters of support from endorsing organizations, click here.
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