Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act

Bill: 118-hr-618
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]
Introduced: 2023-01-30
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Disability assistance

Employee benefits and pensions

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Health personnel

Nursing

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-05
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 472.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-01-30
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act</b></p> <p>This bill expands the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in providing services to injured federal workers under the federal workers' compensation program. </p> <p>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.</p>

action_date: 2024-07-05
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><strong>Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act</strong></p><p>This bill expands the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in providing services to injured federal workers under the federal workers' compensation program.</p><p>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.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 472 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 618 [Report No. 118–571] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 30, 2023 Mr. Walberg (for himself and Mr. Courtney ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce July 5, 2024 Additional sponsors: Mr. Amodei , Ms. Underwood , Mr. Trone , Ms. Porter , Mr. Ruppersberger , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Tonko , Ms. Blunt Rochester , Ms. Sewell , Mr. Lynch , Mrs. Dingell , Ms. Kuster , Mr. Grothman , Mr. Cohen , Mr. Crow , Ms. Bonamici , Mr. Payne , Mr. Lawler , Mr. Huizenga , Mr. Harder of California , Mr. Bacon , Ms. Salinas , Mr. Owens , Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia , Mr. Smith of New Jersey , Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania , Ms. Sherrill , Ms. Strickland , Mr. Veasey , Mr. Carson , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Connolly , Mr. Phillips , Mr. Vargas , Ms. Lee of Nevada , Mr. Barr , Mr. Rogers of Alabama , Ms. Lofgren , Ms. Wild , Ms. Balint , Ms. Jackson Lee , Ms. Leger Fernandez , Mr. Foster , Mr. Suozzi , Ms. Malliotakis , Mr. LaLota , Mr. Goldman of New York , Ms. Clarke of New York , Mr. Deluzio , Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania , Mr. DeSaulnier , Ms. Jayapal , Ms. Hoyle of Oregon , and Mr. Swalwell July 5, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 30, 2023 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act . 2. Inclusion of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (a) Inclusion Section 8101 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting , other eligible providers, after osteopathic practitioners ; (2) by striking and at the end of paragraphs (18) and (19); (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (20) and inserting ; and ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (21) other eligible provider means a nurse practitioner or physician assistant within the scope of their practice as defined by State law. . (b) Conforming amendments Chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 8103(a)— (A) by inserting or other eligible provider after physician each place it appears; and (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting or other eligible providers after physicians ; (2) in section 8121(6), by inserting or other eligible provider after physician ; and (3) in section 8123(a)— (A) by inserting or other eligible provider after The employee may have a physician ; and (B) by inserting or other eligible provider after United States and the physician . (c) Regulations Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall finalize rules to carry out the amendments made by this Act.

July 5, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 618 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 30, 2023 Mr. Walberg (for himself and Mr. Courtney ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act . 2. Inclusion of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (a) Inclusion Section 8101 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting , other eligible providers, after osteopathic practitioners ; (2) by striking and at the end of paragraphs (18) and (19); (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (20) and inserting ; and ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (21) other eligible provider means a nurse practitioner or physician assistant within the scope of their practice as defined by State law. . (b) Conforming amendments Chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 8103(a)— (A) by inserting or other eligible provider after physician in each instance; and (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting or other eligible providers after physicians ; (2) in section 8121(6), by inserting or other eligible provider after physician ; and (3) in section 8123(a)— (A) by inserting or other eligible provider after The employee may have a physician ; and (B) by inserting or other eligible provider after United States and the physician . (c) Regulations Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize rules to carry out the amendments made by this Act.