Government affairs

On Jan. 30, Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Joe Courtney (D-CT), and Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 618/S. 131).

The bill would expand care options by amending the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act to allow 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.

“If you are injured on the job, finding convenient care with the provider of your choice is critical,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “NALC supports this bill, which would expand care options for letter carriers, and all federal employees, who are injured on the job.”