II 

Calendar No. 705 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 131 

[Report No. 118–299] 

To amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to cover, for purposes 

of workers’ compensation under such chapter, services by physician assistants and nurse practitioners provided to injured Federal workers, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 30, 2023 

Mr. BROWN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. WARREN, 

Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, 

and Mr. MERKLEY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice 

and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs 

DECEMBER 17 (legislative day, DECEMBER 16), 2024 

Reported by Mr. PETERS, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to 

cover, for purposes of workers’ compensation under such 

chapter, services by physician assistants and nurse practitioners provided to injured Federal workers, and for 

other purposes. 


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2 

•S 131 RS

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Access to 

5 Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act 

6 of 2023’’. 

7 SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE 

8 PRACTITIONERS IN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ 

9 COMPENSATION ACT. 

10 (a) INCLUSION.—Section 8101 of title 5, United 

11 States Code, is amended— 

12 (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, other eligi13 ble providers,’’ after ‘‘osteopathic practitioners’’; 

14 (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraphs 

15 (18) and (19); 

16 (3) by striking the period at the end of para17 graph (20) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

18 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

19 ‘‘(21) ‘other eligible provider’ means a nurse 

20 practitioner or physician assistant within the scope 

21 of their practice as defined by State law.’’. 

22 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 81 of 

23 title 5, United States Code, is amended— 

24 (1) in section 8103(a)— 


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3 

•S 131 RS

1 (A) by inserting ‘‘or other eligible pro2 vider’’ after ‘‘physician’’ in each instance; and 

3 (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘or 

4 other eligible providers’’ after ‘‘physicians’’; 

5 (2) in section 8121(6), by inserting ‘‘or other 

6 eligible provider’’ after ‘‘physician’’; and 

7 (3) in section 8123(a)— 

8 (A) by inserting ‘‘or other eligible pro9 vider’’ after ‘‘The employee may have a physi10 cian’’; and 

11 (B) by inserting ‘‘or other eligible pro12 vider’’ after ‘‘United States and the physician’’. 

13 (c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 6 months after 

14 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall final15 ize rules to carry out the amendments made by this Act. 

16 SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

17 The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 

18 complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 

19 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

20 titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 

21 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 

22 by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro23 vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 

24 vote on passage. 


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4 

•S 131 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Access to 

3 Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE 

5 PRACTITIONERS IN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ 

6 COMPENSATION ACT. 

7 (a) INCLUSION.—Section 8101 of title 5, United States 

8 Code, is amended— 

9 (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, other eligi10 ble providers,’’ after ‘‘osteopathic practitioners’’; 

11 (2) in paragraph (18), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

12 end; 

13 (3) in paragraph (19), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

14 end; 

15 (4) in paragraph (20), by striking the period at 

16 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

17 (5) by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(21) ‘other eligible provider’ means a nurse 

19 practitioner or physician assistant within the scope of 

20 the practice of that individual as defined by State 

21 law.’’. 

22 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Subchapter I of 

23 chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— 

24 (1) in section 8103(a)— 


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5 

•S 131 RS

1 (A) by inserting ‘‘or other eligible provider’’ 

2 after ‘‘physician’’ each place that term appears; 

3 and 

4 (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘(or 

5 other eligible providers)’’ after ‘‘physicians’’; 

6 (2) in section 8121(6), by inserting ‘‘or other eli7 gible provider’’ after ‘‘physician’’; and 

8 (3) in section 8123(a)— 

9 (A) in the second sentence, by inserting ‘‘or 

10 other eligible provider’’ after ‘‘The employee may 

11 have a physician’’; and 

12 (B) in the third sentence, by inserting ‘‘or 

13 other eligible provider’’ after ‘‘United States and 

14 the physician’’. 

15 (c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the 

16 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall 

17 finalize rules to carry out the amendments made by this 

18 Act. 


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Calendar No. 705 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 131 

[Report No. 118–299] 

A BILL 

To amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States 

D

poses. to injured Federal workers, and for other purcian assistants and nurse practitioners provided pensation under such chapter, services by physiCode, to cover, for purposes of workers’ comECEMBER 17 (legislative day, DECEMBER 16), 2024 

Reported with an amendment 


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