Federal workers gain access to nurse practitioners, physician assistants
S. 3296 — Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025 · Filed by Susan Collins (R-ME) · 6 cosponsors · Introduced Dec 2, 2025 · Reported out
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What it does
This bill expands Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) coverage to include services provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants to injured federal workers, placing them on equal footing with physicians for workers' compensation purposes. The bill amends the definition of covered providers in federal workers' compensation law and requires the Department of Labor to issue implementing regulations within 6 months.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is to expand the class of qualified medical providers covered under federal workers' compensation law. It is a straightforward occupational-health policy change with no hidden riders or narrow beneficiaries.
What the text implies
- Scope of practice is defined by state law, meaning coverage may vary by state and could create inconsistencies in federal workers' compensation across jurisdictions.
- The 6-month regulatory timeline may create interim uncertainty about billing, credentialing, and reimbursement procedures during the rulemaking period.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
nurse practitioners and physician assistants (as a professional class, through expanded employment a; federal workers (through expanded access to care)