The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act would amend the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, or FECA. It would recognize qualified nurse practitioners and physician assistants as providers who can diagnose and treat a workplace injury and certify the injury and extent of disability for a federal workers’ compensation claim.
That is especially relevant to postal employees who have difficulty finding a physician willing to handle Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs paperwork. In rural and medically underserved areas, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant may be the most accessible primary-care provider—but current FECA rules do not give those providers the same authority as physicians for core claim certifications.
What the bill would change
| Issue | Current practical problem | Change proposed by S.3296 |
|---|---|---|
| Initial diagnosis | An employee may need to locate a physician even when an NP or PA is available sooner. | Qualified NPs and PAs could diagnose the work-related condition for FECA purposes. |
| Treatment | OWCP recognition can limit which provider manages the federal claim. | NPs and PAs could provide recognized treatment within their licensed scope. |
| Disability certification | A physician generally must supply the medical certification supporting disability. | NPs and PAs could certify the injury and extent of disability. |
| Provider availability | Finding an OWCP physician can delay care, particularly outside larger population centers. | The eligible provider pool would expand. |
What it would not change
The legislation would expand who can supply medical care and evidence. It would not automatically approve an injury claim, eliminate the employee’s burden to establish the five basic elements of a FECA claim, or guarantee continuation-of-pay or wage-loss compensation.
- Employees would still need to report injuries and submit the appropriate claim forms.
- Medical evidence would still need to explain the diagnosis and its relationship to postal employment.
- OWCP could still request clarification or additional evidence.
- The bill would not increase the statutory compensation rate or create a new category of benefits.
- State licensing and scope-of-practice rules would continue to apply to NPs and PAs.
Why the CBO estimate matters
CBO estimated that enacting S.3296 would change federal direct spending by less than $500,000 over the budget window. It said some employees might receive treatment sooner, which could shift medical payments forward, while faster treatment could also help some injured workers return to work sooner. CBO expects those effects to roughly offset each other.
That modest score removes one common obstacle to legislation: a large projected cost. It does not guarantee floor time, however. Both the House and Senate would still have to pass matching legislation before it could go to the president.
Where the legislation stands
- The House Education and Workforce Committee approved H.R.3170 in June 2025.
- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee ordered S.3296 reported favorably by voice vote on August 6, 2026.
- CBO released the Senate bill’s cost estimate on August 25.
- The bills still need consideration and passage by the full House and Senate.
- If the chambers pass different language, the differences would need to be resolved before presidential action.
NALC supports the legislation and highlighted it in its August 26 bulletin. Although letter carriers experience a high number of workplace injuries, the FECA change would apply to eligible federal workers across postal crafts—not only city carriers.
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