This bill makes it easier for injured federal workers to get care by allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to do more of the work that only doctors can currently do. Right now, if a federal worker gets hurt on the job, they have to see a physician for almost everything related to their workers' compensation claim—getting treatment recommendations, getting their injury officially documented, receiving treatment, and participating in required medical exams. This bill expands the rules so that nurse practitioners and physician assistants can handle these same tasks, as long as they're working within their area of expertise. This matters because it could speed up the process for injured workers to get help, reduce wait times to see a medical provider, and potentially make the system more efficient. Federal workers who are injured would have more options for who can evaluate and treat them, which could mean faster access to care and getting their claims processed more smoothly.

Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act

Walberg, Tim

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.