Blackburn cosponsors bipartisan Health Care for Energy Workers Act

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is supporting a bipartisan bill that would permit nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide necessary services, appliances, and supplies to workers in the nuclear weapons industry who are receiving medical benefits for illnesses.

“Our nuclear energy workers deserve access to quality and timely healthcare, regardless of where they live,” Sen. Blackburn said on Wednesday. “This legislation improves health care for energy workers by permitting nurse practitioners and physician assistants, not just doctors, to fulfill their needs. 

“In doing so,” she said, “we help ensure that energy workers in nuclear weapons facilities, including those at Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, can continue their important work without having to worry whether they will have access to care when they need it — even if they live in a rural area.”

Sen. Blackburn on Jan. 31 cosponsored the Health Care for Energy Workers Act of 2024, S. 3700, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) to update the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, which provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who work or have worked in the nuclear weapons industry.

Specifically, S. 3700 would provide needed flexibility for more healthcare providers to serve beneficiaries, because currently, physician assistants and nurse practitioners cannot order essential home healthcare services for patients, which poses a barrier to care for rural residents whose nearest physician may be hours away or unavailable, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Blackburn’s staff.

“Where you live shouldn’t determine if you live,” said Sen. Hickenlooper. “This bill cuts red tape that ignores the realities of rural life, saving patients hours in the car and improving the care they receive.”

S. 3700 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.