Peace Corps Volunteer Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment

The Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 (Farr-Castle), modified various aspects of the Peace Corps, including changes to the provision of health care to volunteers. Under the provisions of the FECA, 5 U.S.C. §8142 of the FECA provides that, (a) For the purpose of this section, "volunteer" means-- (1) a volunteer enrolled in the Peace Corps under section 2504 of title 22; (2) a volunteer leader enrolled in the Peace Corps under section 2505 of title 22; and (3) an applicant for enrollment as a volunteer or volunteer leader during a period of training under section 2507(a) of title 22 before enrollment. Entitlement to disability compensation payments does not commence until the day after the date of termination of service as a volunteer. 5 U.S.C. 8142(b). Farr-Castle directs the Secretary of the Department of Labor to authorize the Director of the Peace Corps to furnish medical benefits to a volunteer, who is injured during the volunteer’s period of service, for a period of 120 days following the termination of such service if the Director certifies that the volunteer’s injury probably meets the requirements set forth in 5 U.S.C. 8142(c)(3). In view of the provisions required by passage of this bill, the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) and the Peace Corps have collaborated to initiate a new form, CA-15, Peace Corps Volunteer Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment, that will authorize medical treatment for recently terminated Peace Corps volunteers who require medical treatment for injuries/exposure sustained in the performance of their volunteer service. Issuance of this form will solely be at the discretion of the Peace Corps, and will bridge a gap between the occurrence of an initial injury and/or disease exposure and the actual adjudication of a claim by OWCP by helping ensure that recently terminated volunteers receive prompt medical care, without delay, for a period of 120 days following separation from service.

The latest form for Peace Corps Volunteer Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment expires 2023-04-30 and can be found here.