Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act

Bill: 118-s-131
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
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: 2024-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 705.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-01-30
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of </b><b>2023</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>

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 705 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 131 [Report No. 118–299] 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2023 . 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. 3. Determination of budgetary effects The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

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) in paragraph (18), by striking and at the end; (3) in paragraph (19), by striking and at the end; (4) in paragraph (20), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (21) other eligible provider means a nurse practitioner or physician assistant within the scope of the practice of that individual as defined by State law. . (b) Conforming amendments Subchapter I of 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 that term 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) in the second sentence, by inserting or other eligible provider after The employee may have a physician ; and (B) in the third sentence, by inserting or other eligible provider after United States and the physician . (c) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall finalize rules to carry out the amendments made by this Act.

December 17 (legislative day, December 16), 2024 Reported with an amendment

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 131 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 30, 2023 Mr. Brown (for himself and Ms. Collins ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 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 of 2023 . 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. 3. Determination of budgetary effects The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.