---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 8103"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "8103"
heading: "Medical services and initial medical and other benefits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/8103"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities"
  - "Chapter 81 — Compensation for Work Injuries"
  - "Subchapter I — Generally"
---

# §8103. Medical services and initial medical and other benefits

- (a) The [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) shall furnish to an [employee](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1) who is injured while in the performance of duty, the [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), appliances, and supplies prescribed or recommended by a qualified [physician](/usc/5/8101.md?p=2), which the [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) of Labor considers likely to cure, give relief, reduce the degree or the period of disability, or aid in lessening the amount of the monthly [compensation](/usc/5/8101.md?p=12). These [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), appliances, and supplies shall be furnished—
  - (1) whether or not disability has arisen;
  - (2) notwithstanding that the [employee](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1) has accepted or is entitled to receive benefits under subchapter III of [chapter 83](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch83.md) of this title or another retirement [system](/usc/5/8401.md?p=29) for [employees](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1) of the [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3); and
  - (3) by or on the order of [United States medical officers and hospitals](/usc/5/8101.md?p=20), or, at the [employee](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1)’s option, by or on the order of [physicians](/usc/5/8101.md?p=2) and hospitals designated or approved by the [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2).

  The [employee](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1) may initially select a [physician](/usc/5/8101.md?p=2) to provide medical [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), appliances, and supplies, in accordance with such regulations and instructions as the [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) considers necessary, and may be furnished necessary and reasonable transportation and expenses incident to the securing of such [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), appliances, and supplies. These expenses, when authorized or approved by the [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2), shall be paid from the [Employees](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1)’ [Compensation](/usc/5/8101.md?p=12) [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6).

- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2), under such limitations or conditions as he considers necessary, may authorize the employing [agencies](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) to provide for the initial furnishing of medical and other benefits under this section. The [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) may certify vouchers for these expenses out of the [Employees](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1)’ [Compensation](/usc/5/8101.md?p=12) [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) when the immediate superior of the [employee](/usc/5/8101.md?p=1) certifies that the expense was incurred in respect to an [injury](/usc/5/8101.md?p=5) which was accepted by the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) as probably compensable under this subchapter. The [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) shall prescribe the form and content of the certificate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(49), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 209; Pub. L. 93–416, § 2, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1144.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1966 Act |  |  |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 759(a). | Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 458, § 9, 39 Stat. 743. |
|  |  | June 26, 1926, ch. 695, § 1, 44 Stat. 772. |
|  |  | Oct. 14, 1949, ch. 691, § 202(b), 63 Stat. 862. |
|  |  | Sept. 13, 1960, Pub. L. 86–767, § 203, 74 Stat. 907. |

In subsection (b), the words “when the immediate superior of the employee certifies” are substituted for “upon certification by the person required by section 774 of this title to make reports of injury”.

The last sentence of former section 759(a) is omitted as executed.

Administration of this subchapter was transferred to the Secretary of Labor by section 1 of 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 19, 64 Stat. 1271 (see section 8145).

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.


| 1967 Act |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Section of title 5 | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 8103(a)(2) | 5 App.: 759(a). | July 4, 1966, Pub. L. 89–488, § 5(b), 80 Stat. 253. |

The words “another retirement system for employees of the Government” are substituted for “any other Federal Act or program providing retirement benefits for employees”.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1974—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–416 substituted “at the employee’s option” for “when this is not practicable”, struck out “private” before “physicians and hospitals” in par. (3), and, in provision following par. (3), added authorization for the employee to initially select a physician in accordance with such regulations and instructions considered necessary by the Secretary.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–416 applicable to cases where injury or death occurred prior to Sept. 7, 1974, but only to a period beginning on or after Sept. 7, 1974, see section 28(a) of Pub. L. 93–416, set out as a note under section 8101 of this title.

### Personnel Not Affected by 1967 Increase

Pub. L. 90–83, § 7, Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 222, provided that: “Nothing in this or any other Act makes the increases authorized by section 1(49)—(52) [amending this section and sections 8107, 8108, and 8109 of this title], 53(B) and (C) [amending section 8110 of this title], (54)—(58) [amending section 8111, 8112, 8116, 8122, and 8124 of this title], (60) [amending section 8131 of this title], (61) [amending section 8132 of this title], (62) (B) [amending section 8133(e) of this title], (63) [amending section 8135 of this title], (67) [adding section 8146a of this title], (68) [amending section 8147 of this title], and (71) [amending section 8149 of this title] of this Act applicable to— an employee or individual not within the definition of ‘employee’ in section 8101(1)(A), (B), or (D) of title 5, United States Code; a member of the Metropolitan Police or the Fire Department of the District of Columbia who is pensioned or pensionable under sections 521—535 of title 4, District of Columbia Code; or a member of a uniformed service.”