Medical Mileage

When an injured worker has a compensable work-related injury, the employer and insurer are responsible for paying for any reasonable travel expenses incurred when receiving medical treatment including mileage, co-pays, parking, and, if necessary, lodging and meals. This is also true if an employer has the injured worker submit to an independent medical examination.

The injured worker should make sure to keep track of these items along with receipts. A useful tool to use for calculating mileage is Google. Just type in the location from where you are traveling to the healthcare provider to determine the mileage. Once you have mileage you multiply it by the IRS mileage rate to determine the mileage reimbursement

IRS Mileage Rate Changes

Here are the mileage rates from 2006 to present.

01/01/2006 44.5
01/01/2007 48.5
01/01/2008 50.5
07/01/2008 58.5
01/01/2009 55.0
01/01/2010 50.0
01/01/2011 51.0
07/01/2011 55.5
1/1/2013    56.5
1/1/2014 56
1/1/2015 57.5
1/1/16 54
1/1/17 53.5
1/1/18 54.5
1/1/19 58

If trip calls for a meal, DOLI allows meal reimbursement as follows:

Breakfast – $9
Lunch – $11
Dinner – $16

An injured worker should keep these limits in mind when submitting claims for out of pocket expenses. Claims should be submitted on a monthly basis as claims for medical mileage are similar to medical bills and due within 30 days.

If you need a form for your mileage? Click here to download your copy.

Injuries Sustained While Obtaining Medical Treatment are Also Compensable

If an injured employee is traveling to get medical treatment and is injured they may be able to recover from the new injuries.  In Milbrat, a case we were successful for our client, the employee was traveling to fill her work injury-related prescriptions when she was injured in a car accident. The compensation judge found that the injury from the car accident was a compensable consequence of her original work injury, and the employer and insurer appealed. The employer and insurer argued that because the employee was not on her way home from the doctor’s office but was instead on her way to get medications, the injury was not compensable. The W.C.C.A. held that injuries sustained while traveling to or from a pharmacy are compensable if the trip is being made to obtain medications that are reasonable and necessary to treat the work injury.

If you have been denied workers’ compensation benefits or have concerns about your case, we at The Law Office of Thomas Mottaz are workers’ compensation attorneys that help people with Minnesota work injuries anywhere in MN. Contact us for a free consultation and we will answer your questions or help you find the right lawyer for your situation.

Let Jerry Help You

Since 2008, Jerry Sisk has been protecting injured workers rights in Minnesota workers compensation matters.  Jerry’s experienced and knowledgeable staff can answer all of your legal questions, and provide you assistance to get through this process.

If you believe you are entitled to workers compensation benefits, please call Minnesota workers compensation attorney Jerry Sisk at 855-354-2667. Consultations are free and help is available 24 hours day/7 days a week. We look forward to fighting on your behalf and getting you the money you deserve.