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S 3296

Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Richard Blumenthal and 5 co-sponsors

Expands FECA to cover medical services by physician assistants and nurse practitioners for federal workers injured on the job, enabling PA/NP care and FECA reimbursement.

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
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Bill Summary · S 3296

Summary of Bill: S. 3296 (amending FECA to cover physician assistants and nurse practitioners)

Overview

S. 3296 is a Senate bill introduced on January 24, 2025, sponsored by Senator Alexis Weik. The core aim is to amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to extend workers’ compensation coverage under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) to include services provided by physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) for injured federal workers. The bill is in the early legislative stages and has procedural referrals in Congress.

Purpose and intent

  • Expand FECA coverage to explicitly include medical services delivered by PAs and NPs for federal employees who are injured on the job.
  • Clarify that services from these clinicians are recognized as eligible medical treatment under workers’ compensation, ensuring pwc (permanent or temporary) eligibility, reimbursement, and authorization processes align with FECA requirements.

Key provisions (as described)

  • Amend Chapter 81 of Title 5, U.S.C. to include physicians assistants and nurse practitioners as eligible providers for FECA-covered medical care.
  • Ensure that medical services provided by PAs and NPs for injured federal workers fall within the scope of compensation and treatment authorized under FECA.
  • The bill’s text may include definitions or criteria for allowable services, provider qualifications, and mechanisms for authorization and reimbursement consistent with FECA, though specific subsections are not detailed in the summary provided.
  • Additional “other purposes” language suggests potential related reforms or clarifications around claims processing, provider networks, or related administrative procedures, contingent on the bill’s full text.

Affected parties

  • Federal workers covered under FECA who are injured on the job.
  • Physician assistants and nurse practitioners who provide medical services to federal workers.
  • Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) and related federal agencies administering FECA.
  • Potential impact on FECA medical-reimbursement policies, provider panels, and administrative workflows.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 24, 2025.
  • Initial referrals: The bill was referred to the Senate committee process, with initial mentions of a referral to Higher Education (an unusual or placeholder committee reference in the summary) on January 24, 2025.
  • As of December 2, 2025: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Sponsor introductory remarks noted in the congressional record).
  • Related bills/companion versions: S 9531 and S 4240 (from prior sessions); A 3340 (companion in the House) with duplicate entries listed.

Related or companion legislation

  • Senate: S 9531, S 4240 (prior-session bills related to similar FECA coverage changes).
  • House: A 3340 (companion bill) – listed twice, indicating possible multiple entries or versions.

Practical considerations

  • The bill’s effect hinges on the full text, including any defined scope, reimbursement rates, and implementation timelines for integrating PAs and NPs into FECA’s medical provider framework.
  • If enacted, federal workers could access PA/NP-provided care more readily for on-the-job injuries, potentially affecting provider networks and administrative processes within OWCP and related federal health systems.

Bottom line

S. 3296 proposes a targeted expansion of FECA coverage to include medical services rendered by physician assistants and nurse practitioners for federal employees with work-related injuries. The measure is in early-stage committee consideration with ongoing legislative action, and its final impact will depend on the enacted text, including any detailed provisions on provider qualifications, billing, and implementation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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