Injury care built around federal workers’ comp
Federal employees aren’t covered by Texas workers’ comp. If you work for the U.S. government, your work injury falls under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), run by the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). It has its own forms, deadlines and medical reporting rules, and a claim can stall if the paperwork is wrong.
Our federal workers’ compensation doctors in McAllen and Harlingen treat the injury and handle the medical side of the claim: exams, treatment plans, physical therapy, duty status reports and the narrative medical reports OWCP relies on. Every FECA medical report from our clinic is reviewed and signed by our physician.
Federal employees we see in the Valley
We treat federal employees across the Rio Grande Valley, including:
- USPS letter carriers, rural carriers, clerks and mail handlers (see what to do after an injury at the Postal Service)
- U.S. Border Patrol agents from the McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen and Brownsville stations
- CBP officers at the Hidalgo, Pharr, Anzalduas and Progreso ports of entry
- TSA officers at McAllen (MFE) and Valley International (HRL) airports
- VA staff at the McAllen and Harlingen VA clinics
- Employees of every other federal agency
We are an independent clinic and are not affiliated with any of these agencies.
How it works at Alivio
- Call us first. We’ll explain your rights, which form fits your injury and what to bring.
- Report the injury to your supervisor and file the right form in ECOMP: usually a CA-1 or CA-2.
- Your first visit. We examine you, document how the injury happened and start a treatment plan, often including physical therapy.
- Ongoing reporting. We send OWCP the medical reports and duty status forms it needs, on time, while you recover.
For a step-by-step look at the claim itself, read about our OWCP doctors and OWCP injury claims. To learn what being enrolled with DOL means for your bills, see our DOL doctors page.
Common federal work injuries we treat
- Back, neck and shoulder strains from lifting, carrying and repetitive motion
- Knee and ankle injuries from slips, trips and falls on the route
- Repetitive stress injuries, including wrist and hand problems
- Injuries from vehicle accidents while on duty
- Recurrences of an older accepted injury
Free help with the paperwork
Most problems with federal claims come from paperwork: the wrong form, missing details or a late report. Our team helps you understand and complete OWCP forms at no cost, and we answer questions in English or Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for my care under federal workers' comp?
When OWCP accepts your claim, the Department of Labor pays your approved medical bills directly. Providers enrolled with OWCP bill DOL, and federal law bars them from billing you for the difference when DOL reduces a bill.
Can I keep my own doctor if I already started treatment somewhere else?
Under FECA you choose your initial treating physician. Changing doctors later generally needs written approval from OWCP. If you want to transfer your care to Alivio, call us and we will explain how to request the change.
How fast should I report a federal work injury?
Tell your supervisor right away and file a CA-1 within 30 days of a traumatic injury to protect your right to up to 45 days of continuation of pay. All FECA claims must be filed within 3 years of the injury.
Do you treat occupational illnesses, not just accidents?
Yes. Conditions that develop over time, such as repetitive strain, back problems from years of lifting, or carpal tunnel, are filed as occupational disease claims on Form CA-2, and we treat them too.
Medically reviewed by Peter Ruiz, MD, Medical Director. MD · Family Medicine · Texas Medical Board license N2270
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