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Today, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, chaired by Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), held a hearing to examine the implications of the opioid epidemic for the Department of Labor’s (DOL) workers’ compensation program for federal employees under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA).

This hearing is part of the Committee on Education and the Workforce’s ongoing effort to examine the many different ways the opioid epidemic impacts American communities, families, and workplaces, as well as possible solutions to assist in curbing this public health epidemic.

“The national opioid epidemic, which late last year was classified as a public health emergency by President Trump, is devastating communities, workplaces, and the lives of working Americans across the country – including federal workers,” Chairman Byrne said. “This public health emergency is not only impacting employees and employers in the private sector, but also has serious implications for the Department of Labor’s FECA program, which is responsible for workers’ compensation coverage for nearly 3 million federal employees.”

In 2017 alone, FECA provided $2.9 billion in benefits to more than 218,000 civilian federal employees and survivors for work-related illnesses, $2 billion in compensation and death benefit payments to surviving dependents, and $900 million in medical and rehabilitation services. 

Byrne said, “Due to the broad geographical reach of federal employees and the discrepancies in state-by-state prescribing practices, it is important for members of the subcommittee to understand how opioids are prescribed to federal workers through the FECA program.”

“Taxpayers and federal workers deserve a program that is cost effective, free from fraud, and provides safe and medically necessary treatment for workers,” said Scott Dahl, the Inspector General of DOL.

Dahl noted how it is essential for DOL to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not perpetuating the opioid epidemic, and how DOL is updating its policies to prevent further abuse.

Scott Szymendera with the Congressional Research Service highlighted how DOL’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) has been working to limit access to certain classes of drugs, including opioids. His testimony did note that more may need to be done within OWCP to combat the risk of FECA beneficiaries misusing opioids. 

Ramona Tanabe, Executive Vice President and Counsel for the Workers Compensation Research Institute, noted how the federal government can look to several states that are changing workers’ compensation programs to prevent opioid abuse. 

Research conducted by the Workers Compensation Research Institute found large decreases in opioids dispensed to injured workers in many states. 

“We found 20 percent or higher reductions in the average amount of opioids dispensed to injured workers in 15 of the 26 states in the study,” said Tanabe. “This turning point may be associated with the numerous changes made at the federal, state, and organization levels in recent years to combat opioid overuse and abuse.” 

The opioid epidemic has had an impact on American workers in cities and small communities, big businesses and small businesses, and in the private as well as the public sector. The Committee on Education and the Workforce will continue to explore policy solutions and steps the federal government can take to address the opioid epidemic, and the millions of Americans it impacts.

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