Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Senator Collins introducing the bill on the Senate floor
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the bipartisan Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act. This legislation would allow Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to certify injuries and oversee treatment for federal workers with injuries or illnesses that occurred on the job, when doing so is consistent with the scope of their practice under state law.
“In a large, rural state like Maine, finding access to health care close to home can be a challenge,” said Senator Collins. “Nurse practitioners and physician assistants help to fill in this gap by providing quality medical services to local communities. By allowing injured federal workers to be treated by these professionals, our bipartisan bill would help prevent the need for long and difficult travel, reduce wait times for care, and improve employees’ overall health and wellbeing.”
Federal employees can already select a PA or a NP as their primary health care provider within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. However, the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) permits only a physician to make the diagnosis, certify the injury and extent of the disability, and oversee the patient’s treatments and care when the federal employee is injured on the job.
The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act would amend FECA to allow injured workers to receive treatment for work-related injuries from state-licensed physician associates/physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Current law prohibits federal workers from being treated by PAs and NPs for worker compensation cases.
The bill has been endorsed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Physician Associates, and the National Association of Letter Carriers.
“The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), on behalf of the over 431,000 nurse practitioners nationwide, commends Senators Collins and Blumenthal for their leadership on the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025,” said AANP President, Valerie J. Fuller, PhD, DNP. “This legislation will ensure injured federal employees receive the care they need from their chosen and trusted health care provider. By authorizing NPs to certify workplace injuries and oversee the patient’s treatment and care, federal employees will return to work sooner.”
“The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) applauds Senators Collins and Blumenthal for championing this commonsense legislation. Too many federal workers still face outdated barriers that delay or deny the care they need when they get injured on the job,” said AAPA President Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO. “With more than 190,000 PAs practicing nationwide and delivering high-quality care across every specialty, the reintroduction of this bill is an important step toward modernizing our system and ensuring federal employees can get timely, expert care without unnecessary roadblocks.”
“When a letter carrier, or any federal employee, is injured on the job, finding quality, convenient, and timely care is essential. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) appreciates Senator Collins and Senator Blumenthal’s leadership in introducing this bill and urges Congress to pass it,” said NALC President Brian L. Renfroe.
The complete text of the bill can be read here.
