Federal Workers' Compensation in Kansas City: Doctors for Your Federal Workman's Comp Claim
Hurt on the job as a federal employee? Federal workers' compensation covers your medical care, lost wages and permanent impairment — but only if your claim has the right medical evidence. Restore Muscle and Joint's federal workers comp doctors in Kansas City treat your injury and document it the way OWCP requires.
For civilian federal employees covered by FECA · Medical director, chiropractic & physical therapy under one roof
Dr. Kendra Pearson, DC
Founder · Certified 6th Edition Impairment Rater · married to a former letter carrier
What is federal workers' compensation?
Federal workers' compensation is the benefit program for civilian federal employees injured or made ill by their work. It is created by the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and run by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), not by state workers' comp systems. It pays for medical care, continuation of pay for up to 45 days after a traumatic injury, wage-loss compensation of 66⅔% of pay (75% with dependents), schedule awards for permanent impairment, and vocational rehabilitation. In Kansas City, Restore Muscle and Joint provides OWCP-enrolled federal workers comp doctors at 4119 NW Barry Rd.
What federal workers' compensation pays for
Federal workman's comp isn't just medical bills. Here's what FECA can provide — and where your doctor's documentation decides whether you get it.
Medical care
Treatment a qualified provider prescribes and OWCP considers necessary for your work injury, paid directly to enrolled providers with no copay for accepted conditions.
Continuation of pay (COP)
Up to 45 calendar days of regular pay from your agency after a traumatic injury, if you file a CA-1 within 30 days and your doctor supports the disability.
Wage-loss compensation
66⅔% of your pay, or 75% if you have one or more dependents, when medical evidence shows you can't work or can only work reduced hours. Claimed on Form CA-7.
Schedule awards
Payment for permanent impairment of a covered body part, based on an AMA Guides 6th Edition impairment rating once you reach maximum medical improvement.
Impairment ratings →Vocational rehabilitation
Help returning to work, including retraining, when your injury keeps you from going back to your old job.
Leave buy-back
If you used sick or annual leave for an injury that's later accepted, you can request to buy that leave back using Form CA-7.
The 5 things OWCP must see before it accepts your federal workers' comp claim
OWCP evaluates every claim against five basic requirements, in order. The first two are usually simple. The last three depend heavily on your medical records — and the fifth, causal relationship, is where many claims stall.
A federal workers comp doctor's job isn't only to treat you. It's to write a clear, reasoned medical opinion explaining how your work caused your diagnosed condition.
Talk to our team: (816) 452-4488- Timely filed Generally within three years of the injury — and a CA-1 within 30 days to protect continuation of pay.
- Federal civil employee You must be a civilian federal employee. Federal contractors are generally not covered by FECA.
- Fact of injury The incident or work exposure happened as described, and a doctor diagnosed a medical condition.
- Performance of duty The injury arose while you were doing your job, within the scope of your federal employment.
- Causal relationship Medical evidence explains how the work event or exposure caused the diagnosed condition. This is the doctor's report that makes or breaks most claims.
Key federal workman's comp deadlines and timelines
Missing a deadline is one of the easiest ways to lose federal workers' compensation benefits you'd otherwise qualify for.
| Milestone | Timeline | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Report injury & file CA-1 | Within 30 days of a traumatic injury | Preserves eligibility for continuation of pay (COP). |
| Continuation of pay | Up to 45 calendar days | Your agency keeps paying your regular salary while you recover. |
| Waiting period | 3 days, unless disability exceeds 14 days | If you're out more than 14 days, the first three days are paid too. |
| File any FECA claim | Generally within 3 years | The general time limit for filing a claim for injury or occupational disease. |
| Wage-loss claims (CA-7) | After COP ends, or when you lose pay | Requires medical evidence supporting the period of disability. |
| Medical reports (CA-20, CA-17) | Throughout treatment | Keep OWCP and your agency current on diagnosis and work restrictions. |
Need the forms themselves? See our OWCP forms guide →
What a federal workers comp doctor does for your claim
Choosing the right doctor is one of the few decisions in a FECA claim that's entirely yours. Here's what our Kansas City federal workers' comp doctors handle at each stage.
- DiagnoseA complete exam and a specific diagnosis — not just "back pain" — with imaging referrals if needed.
- Connect it to workA medical explanation of how your job duties or the work incident caused the condition.
- TreatCoordinated medical, chiropractic and physical therapy care under one plan.
- ReportCA-20, CA-17 and narrative reports submitted on time, with work restrictions your agency can act on.
- Close the loopReturn-to-work guidance, maximum medical improvement, and a 6th Edition impairment rating when appropriate.
Want to know who qualifies as a DOL doctor and how to choose one? Read our DOL doctors guide →
Founded by a doctor who's lived federal comp at home
Dr. Kendra Pearson founded Restore Muscle and Joint to help federal employees recover from work injuries without getting lost in the OWCP system. Married to a former letter carrier, she built the clinic around what federal patients actually need: coordinated care and medical documentation that holds up.
- Doctor of Chiropractic, Cleveland Chiropractic College – Kansas City (2004)
- Certified 6th Edition Impairment Rater (AMA Guides, 6th Ed.)
- Board-certified in chronic pain and neuropathy management (2021)
- Leads a team with a medical director (Dr. Chris Main, DO), a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a staff chiropractor
"A one stop shop for a physical therapist and chiropractor"
Rated 4.8 from 349 Google reviews. Read them on Google
— Marlasha W., Google review ★★★★★"My daughter and I are both receiving treatment through RMJ, and I must say that the customer service and hospitality is top tier! It is also a bonus that it is a one stop shop for a physical therapist and chiropractor! … You guys have lifetime customers!"
Federal workers' compensation doctors near you in Kansas City
Our Northland clinic sits near I-29 and I-435, a short drive from Kansas City International Airport, and serves federal employees across the metro on both sides of the state line.
Restore Muscle and Joint – Federal Workers' Comp Kansas City
- Address
- 4119 NW Barry Rd
Kansas City, MO 64154 - Phone
- (816) 452-4488
- Hours
- Call (816) 452-4488 for current hours
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Federal workers' compensation questions, answered
Is federal workman's comp the same as federal workers' compensation?
Yes. "Federal workman's comp," "fed comp," "federal workers' comp" and "FECA" all refer to the same program: workers' compensation for civilian federal employees under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, administered by the Department of Labor's OWCP.
How much does federal workers' compensation pay?
Wage-loss compensation is 66⅔% of your regular pay if you have no dependents, or 75% if you have one or more dependents. Certain pay such as night differential and hazardous duty pay can be included; regularly earned overtime generally cannot. Medical care for accepted conditions is paid in full by OWCP.
What is continuation of pay (COP)?
Continuation of pay is up to 45 calendar days of your regular salary, paid by your agency, after a traumatic injury. To be eligible, file Form CA-1 within 30 days of the injury and provide medical evidence supporting your disability.
Is there a waiting period for federal workers' comp?
Yes. Compensation is subject to a three-day waiting period if your disability lasts less than 14 calendar days. Once the disability exceeds 14 days, you're compensated for those first three days as well.
Why do federal workers' comp claims get denied?
OWCP requires five elements: a timely claim, federal civilian employment, fact of injury, performance of duty, and causal relationship. Many denials come down to the last one — the medical evidence doesn't clearly explain how the work event or exposure caused the diagnosed condition. A detailed, reasoned report from your treating doctor is the best protection.
Are federal contractors covered by federal workers' compensation?
Generally, no. FECA covers civilian employees of the federal government. Contractors working on federal sites are usually covered by their employer's state workers' compensation insurance or another program instead.
I used my sick leave after my injury. Can I get it back?
Often, yes. If your claim is accepted, you can request leave buy-back for sick or annual leave you used because of the work injury by filing Form CA-7, supported by medical evidence covering those dates.
Do I need a federal workers comp doctor, or can my regular doctor treat me?
Any qualified provider enrolled with OWCP can treat you, and the initial choice is yours. The advantage of a dedicated federal workers comp doctor is experience with FECA documentation — causation opinions, CA-20 and CA-17 reports, and work restrictions — that keeps your claim and benefits moving.
See a federal workers' comp doctor in Kansas City
Tell us about your federal work injury and our team will call you to review your claim status, explain your FECA benefits and schedule your first visit.
- OWCP-enrolled providers who bill DOL directly
- Medical documentation built for FECA's five requirements
- Help with COP, CA-7 wage loss and leave buy-back questions
Prefer to talk now? Call (816) 452-4488