Today, Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) delivered the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the House floor in support of H.R. 6087, the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act:
“I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to act as eligible providers under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act program (FECA) within the scope of their practice under state law.
“Under current law, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are unable to treat federal workers covered by FECA, even though most state workers’ compensation programs authorize them to provide this care for private sector employees.
“To be clear, H.R. 6087 defers to state law and does not expand the scope of practice.
“This legislation aligns FECA with other federal programs that already include care provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants such as Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration program.
“H.R. 6087 would increase health care access and choice for federal employees when many areas of our country are grappling with provider shortages, especially in rural areas.
“According to the National Rural Health Association, nurse practitioners and physician assistants accounted for a third of all primary care clinicians treating Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, and they are closer to half of the primary care clinicians in rural areas.
“Improving health care access for FECA beneficiaries would allow injured federal employees to return to the workforce more quickly, benefiting both employees and taxpayers.
“I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan improvement to our federal workers’ compensation program.
“I want to thank my Committee colleagues Representatives Walberg and Courtney and Chairman Scott for advancing this important legislation."
