High Country Times: Walberg and Mackenzie seek GAO review on FECA reform

Today, Chairman Tim Walberg and Subcommittee Chairman Ryan Mackenzie have taken steps to address concerns regarding the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). In a letter sent to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro, they requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine how Congress can improve FECA. The aim is to better serve injured federal workers while reducing waste, fraud, and abuse.

The letter highlights that FECA was enacted in 1916 and provides compensation benefits to federal employees injured or ill due to work-related activities. However, it has not been significantly updated for over 50 years and faces criticism for susceptibility to misuse and being overly generous.

"While the last major revisions to the FECA program enacted by Congress were in 1974, various proposed revisions have been considered over the past decade," the letter states. Reports from GAO in 2012 and 2020 analyzed compensation levels under existing and proposed revisions. Proposals aimed at improving efficiency suggest allowing state-licensed physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide care for injured workers.

The letter concludes with concerns about program integrity issues related to improper payments within FECA. The Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General testified that since FY 2015, more than 320 criminal investigations have led to indictments, convictions of 322 individuals, and recovery of over $1.7 billion.