Claims for Compensation Under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act; Compensation for Disability and Death of Noncitizen Federal Employees Outside the United States

On December 23, 1997, the Department of Labor proposed revisions to the regulations governing the administration of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) (62 FR 67120). The FECA provides benefits to all civilian Federal employees and certain other groups of employees and individuals who are injured or killed while performing their jobs. The proposed changes were summarized in that publication. They contain a major revision of the medical fee schedule to include pharmacy and inpatient hospital bills. Other significant new provisions address suspension of benefits during incarceration and termination of benefits for conviction of fraud against the program; changes to the continuation of pay (COP) provisions; paying for an attendant as a medical expense; inclusion of OWCP nurse services in the definition of vocational rehabilitation services; clarifying the reconsideration process; restricting entitlement to postpone oral hearings; clarification of subpoena authority; streamlining the standards for review of representatives' fees; provision of more detailed guidance for claims involving the liability of a third party; and clarification of procedures for claims filed by non-Federal law enforcement officers. Finally, in light of comments received, the proposal to remove all references to leave repurchase has been abandoned in favor of including a brief mention of this practice.