S. 3296: Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025, seeks to enhance the accessibility of workers' compensation for federal employees who are injured while carrying out their duties. The primary focus of the bill is to extend the eligibility for workers' compensation services to include healthcare services provided by physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Inclusion of Healthcare Providers: The bill amends existing legislation (specifically, Section 8101 of Title 5 of the United States Code) to explicitly include physician assistants and nurse practitioners as "other eligible providers" for the purposes of workers' compensation. This means that these healthcare professionals can now provide medical services to injured federal workers and have those services recognized for compensation claims.
• Expanded Definition: The term "other eligible provider" is defined in the bill as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant operating within the scope of their state-defined practice. This aims to clarify and broaden the types of medical professionals whose services will be eligible for reimbursement under workers' compensation.
• Conforming Amendments: Additional amendments will ensure consistency throughout the relevant chapters of the United States Code. For example, the bill proposes to insert references to "other eligible provider" in various sections where physicians are currently mentioned. This includes areas regarding medical services and the eligibility of providers under the workers' compensation framework.
• Regulatory Timeline: The bill also includes a provision that mandates the Secretary of Labor to finalize the rules necessary to implement these changes within six months of the bill's enactment.

Impact on Federal Workers

By allowing services from these additional healthcare practitioners, the bill aims to improve access to medical care for federal employees who suffer job-related injuries. This change is expected to facilitate quicker treatment, reduce delays in accessing compensation, and enhance the overall healthcare experience for injured workers.

Important Dates

• The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate on December 2, 2025.
• It has been referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for further consideration.

Relevant Companies

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