Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM · (732) 738-1800
FECA Doctors: Federal Workers' Comp Doctors in Edison, NJ
The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) is the workers' comp law for federal employees. It pays for your medical care and replaces lost wages after a work injury, and unlike most state systems, it lets you choose your own doctor. FedMed Care in Edison is a federal workers' comp practice led by Dr. Douglas J. Zimmel, D.C., treating New Jersey federal employees under FECA.
- You choose your doctor
- $0 for accepted conditions
- Wage loss up to 75%
What is FECA?
The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), 5 U.S.C. 8101 et seq., provides workers' compensation to civilian federal employees injured or made ill by their work. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), not by your agency or a state. FECA pays for medical treatment of accepted conditions, replaces lost wages, and provides schedule awards for permanent impairment and vocational rehabilitation.
Who it covers
Civilian employees of the federal government, including USPS, TSA, VA, CBP, DoD civilian and Bureau of Prisons staff.
Who runs it
The Department of Labor's OWCP decides claims and pays benefits. Your agency handles reporting and Continuation of Pay.
Your doctor
You choose your initial treating provider. FECA defines which provider types qualify as a "physician."
Who is covered by FECA, and who isn't
Coverage depends on who employs you, not where you work. A federal employee in Edison is covered by FECA; a contractor at the same site is not.
✓ Covered by FECA
- Civilian federal employees, full-time or part-time
- U.S. Postal Service employees
- TSA, CBP and other DHS civilian staff
- VA, SSA, IRS and other agency employees
- Civilian employees of the Department of Defense
- Bureau of Prisons staff
✕ Not covered by FECA
- Active-duty military members (covered by military and VA systems)
- Federal contractors and their employees (state workers' comp)
- State, county and municipal employees (state workers' comp)
- Private-sector employees (state workers' comp)
What federal workers' comp pays for under FECA
Benefits apply to conditions OWCP has accepted. Your medical documentation is what gets a condition accepted, which is why your choice of doctor matters.
Medical care
Reasonable and necessary treatment for accepted conditions, paid by OWCP directly to the provider. You are not responsible for charges above OWCP's fee schedule.
Continuation of Pay
Your regular salary for up to 45 calendar days after a traumatic injury, paid by your agency, if you file a CA-1 within 30 days.
Wage-loss compensation
66⅔% of your pay with no dependents, or 75% with one or more dependents, claimed on a CA-7 when you can't work because of an accepted condition.
Schedule awards
Payment for permanent impairment of specific body parts or functions, rated by a physician once you reach maximum medical improvement.
Vocational rehabilitation
Retraining and job placement help if your injury keeps you from returning to your old position, with a maintenance allowance during rehab.
Travel & expense refunds
Mileage and travel costs to treatment (OWCP-957A/B) and out-of-pocket medical costs (OWCP-915) for accepted conditions.
Which doctors can treat a FECA claim?
FECA defines "physician" to include several provider types, each within the scope of practice set by state law. Some have special rules.
| Provider type | Can treat under FECA? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medical doctors (MD) & osteopaths (DO) | Yes | Within their state scope of practice. |
| Chiropractors (DC) | Yes, with limits | Reimbursable for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation demonstrated by x-ray. Physical therapy when prescribed by a qualified physician. |
| Podiatrists, dentists, optometrists, clinical psychologists | Yes | Within their state scope of practice. |
| Nurse practitioners & physician assistants | Not as a FECA "physician" | They can't certify disability or direct care under current law. A bill to change this (S. 3296) was introduced in December 2025. |
| Physical therapists | Under a physician's prescription | Therapy must be prescribed by a qualified physician. |
What this means at FedMed Care: Dr. Zimmel treats spinal injuries within FECA's chiropractic rules and documents x-ray findings carefully. When your injury needs care outside that scope, we coordinate with OWCP-enrolled physicians so your treatment and claim stay aligned.
Federal workers' comp is not New Jersey workers' comp
Many New Jersey providers, and many coworkers' spouses and friends, know the state system. FECA works differently in ways that matter for your care.
| FECA (federal employees) | New Jersey workers' comp | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it covers | Civilian federal employees | Private, state and local employees in NJ |
| Who runs it | U.S. Department of Labor (OWCP) | Employer's insurer, under the NJ Division of Workers' Compensation |
| Who picks your doctor | ✓ You choose your initial provider | The employer's insurance carrier generally directs your care |
| Wage replacement | 66⅔% (no dependents) or 75% (with dependents) | Set by NJ law, subject to a state maximum |
| Key forms | CA-1, CA-2, CA-16, CA-17, CA-20, CA-7 via ECOMP | State and insurer forms |
| Appeals | OWCP hearings, reconsideration, ECAB | NJ Division of Workers' Compensation |
If your clinic says "we take workers' comp," ask whether they mean federal workers' comp. Many don't bill OWCP or complete FECA forms. What makes a DOL doctor different →
Why federal employees choose FedMed Care
Dr. Douglas J. Zimmel, D.C., has practiced in Edison for 40 years. His practice is set up specifically for federal workers' comp: we treat the injury and we produce the documentation FECA claims depend on.
- OWCP billed directly, with no copays on accepted claims
- CA-16, CA-17 and CA-20 completed for you
- Clear causation and work-restriction reports
- Evening hours until 7 PM, Monday–Thursday
- English- and Spanish-speaking staff
FECA doctor in Edison, New Jersey
Serving federal employees across Middlesex County and Central New Jersey, including Edison, Metuchen, Woodbridge, Iselin, Piscataway, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Sayreville and Old Bridge.
FedMed Care — Dr. Douglas J. Zimmel, D.C.295 Pierson Ave, Suite 101
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 738-1800
| Monday – Thursday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday – Sunday | Call for availability |
FECA and federal workers' comp questions
What is a FECA doctor?
A FECA doctor is a provider who treats federal employees injured at work under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, bills the Department of Labor's OWCP and completes OWCP medical reports. FECA doctors are also called DOL doctors, OWCP doctors or federal workers' comp doctors.
Can I choose my own doctor under FECA?
Yes. FECA lets you choose your initial treating provider, unlike New Jersey's state workers' comp system, where the employer's insurance carrier generally directs care. Changing providers after your initial choice generally requires OWCP approval.
How much does FECA pay for lost wages?
FECA wage-loss compensation is 66⅔% of your pay if you have no dependents, or 75% if you have one or more dependents. After a traumatic injury, Continuation of Pay covers your full salary for up to 45 calendar days first.
Does FECA cover chiropractors?
Yes, within limits. FECA reimburses chiropractic treatment consisting of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation demonstrated by x-ray. Physical therapy is covered when prescribed by a qualified physician.
Can a nurse practitioner or physician assistant treat my FECA claim?
Under current law, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are not FECA "physicians," so they cannot certify disability or direct your care. A bill to change this, S. 3296, was introduced in the U.S. Senate in December 2025.
Is FECA the same as New Jersey workers' compensation?
No. FECA is a federal program for federal employees run by the U.S. Department of Labor. New Jersey workers' compensation covers private, state and local employees and is handled through employers' insurance carriers and the NJ Division of Workers' Compensation.
Are military members covered by FECA?
No. Active-duty service members are covered by military and VA systems. Civilian employees of the Department of Defense, however, are covered by FECA.
Where can I find a federal workers' comp doctor near me in New Jersey?
FedMed Care, led by Dr. Douglas J. Zimmel, D.C., treats federal employees under FECA at 295 Pierson Ave, Suite 101, Edison, NJ 08837, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Call (732) 738-1800.
Use your FECA right to choose. Choose FedMed Care.
Call our Edison office to start care under FECA. We'll confirm your claim, explain your forms and get you on Dr. Zimmel's schedule.
(732) 738-1800295 Pierson Ave, Suite 101
Edison, NJ 08837
Mon – Thu: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
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