1215-AB83 200910 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1215 Employment Standards Administration ESA 1200 Department of Labor DOL Claims for Compensation Under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act ESA’s Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) plans to issue new regulations to update its organizational description to reflect the reorganization that will transform OWCP into a stand-alone organization reporting directly to the Office of the Secretary of Labor. OWCP administers four major disability compensation programs that provide wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and other benefits (such as survivors benefits) to certain workers who experience work-related injury or occupational disease. The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) provides workers’ compensation benefits to federal workers for employment-related injuries and occupational diseases as well as survivor benefits for a covered employee’s employment-related death. OWCP plans to update its regulations governing administration of claims under the FECA. The last comprehensive update of the FECA regulations was undertaken more than ten years ago; since that time a number of improvements have been made to OWCP’s processing of claims. The regulations will be revised to reflect those changes and to incorporate new procedures that will enhance OWCP’s ability to administer FECA. Changes to the regulations will facilitate the return to work of injured workers who are able to work by such measures as increasing the opportunity for vocational rehabilitation. Revisions to the regulations will also enhance OWCP’s ability to efficiently provide sufficient income and medical care for those who are unable to work. The planned regulatory changes will better explain the increased automation of the medical billing process; reflect changes in procedure, such as FECA's centralized mail processing; and also codify changes in case law affecting FECA claims administration. OWCP also plans to modernize the provision of compensation for employees situated overseas who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States to reflect current realities in regard to such employees. The regulations will also be revised to reflect a recent statutory change to the FECA moving the three-day waiting period before qualifying for wage-loss compensation for employees of the Postal Service. Other Significant First Time Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No 20 CFR 1 20 CFR 10 20 CFR 25 5 USC 8149 No NPRM 08/00/2010 No No None No No No Douglas Fitzgerald 1240 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs OWCP 202 693-0040 202 693-1497 fitzgerald.douglas@dol.gov 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room S-3229, Washington DC 20210