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Committee unanimously backs bill letting PAs and NPs treat injured federal workers under FECA
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Summary
The committee approved H.R. 3,170 to permit state‑licensed physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide treatment for federal workers' compensation claims under FECA within the scope of state law. The amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted and the bill was reported to the House unanimously.
Chairman Wahlberg and Representative Joe Courtney cosponsored H.R. 3,170 to update the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) so state‑licensed physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) can diagnose, certify and treat injured federal workers where permitted by state scope‑of‑practice laws.
Supporters, including Representative Courtney, said the change would expand access to timely care for injured federal employees—especially in rural areas—by aligning FECA with other federal programs such as Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration that already permit PAs and NPs to provide care within state law. Representative Courtney said many federal workers have faced long delays because an approved physician "may not be within a reasonable distance." He noted prior Congressional passage in an earlier Congress and CBO scoring that found no budgetary impact.
The bill drew broad bipartisan support in committee. Representative Mackenzie, Chair of the Workforce Protections subcommittee, and Representatives Adams, Macbeth and others described the bill as a practical, narrowly tailored fix that defers to state scope‑of‑practice rules and improves access without changing state law.
The committee adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute and reported H.R. 3,170 to the House by recorded vote (34–0 on the recorded vote in committee).
