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Mileage Reimbursement for Medical Care Under Workers’ Comp
Anyone who has ever been sick or injured due to their job knows how costly and inconvenient it can be, especially when you travel to and from several doctor’s appointments. Some work injuries may be mild, but others can cost you significant money and time. It is even more expensive when visiting a specialist or attending several therapy sessions.
You may be wondering if it is possible to get mileage reimbursement for medical treatment in Missouri. The short answer to your question is yes. Under Missouri workers’ compensation laws, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation mileage reimbursement when you obtain medical treatment for a work injury. An experienced lawyer can assist you in getting this reimbursement.
What Is Medical Mileage?
Medical mileage is the cost incurred for doctor’s trips as well as hospital and pharmacy visits due to a work-related injury. Missouri law requires employers to advance or reimburse injured employees’ “necessary and reasonable expenses” when they are forced to seek medical treatment outside the local or metropolitan area where they work.
The maximum limit for reimbursement of such travel is two hundred and fifty miles each way from the place of treatment.
If you are an injured employee and are being treated unjustly by your employer or are being denied mileage reimbursement, Missouri workers’ compensation attorneys can help you.
Workers’ Comp Mileage Form
The Workers’ Compensation Mileage Form provides documentation of the miles traveled to seek authorized medical care for a work-related injury. The form has three sections:
Section 1: To Be Completed by the Employee
You need to ensure that to provide the following information:
- Name and address of the employee
- CARO case number (if known)
- Date of injury
- Name of state agency
When filling out the form, you should include the dates you traveled, what city you departed from, what city you traveled to, and the number of round-trip miles traveled to seek medical care for the injury acquired. Ensure you sign the form before submission.
Section 2: To Be Completed by the Medical Care Provider
The medical provider should complete this section of the form each time a treatment is provided in order to determine the mileage traveled. The medical care provider should fill in their name and office address and sign and date the form.
Section 3: To the Completed by CARO
The Central Accident Reporting Office (CARO) completes this section of the form when payments are processed based on the state mileage allowance rate in effect on the date the employee traveled for medical care.
Regularly submit your mileage reimbursement form to CARO, together with any receipts for other travel expenses. You or your state agency can submit the form and supporting documents to CARO.
How to Improve Your Chances of Receiving Your Missouri Workers’ Compensation Mileage Reimbursement
In order to receive workers’ comp mileage compensation, you must provide proof of your doctor’s visits, expenses, and mileage. These are a few things you can do to ensure you are well compensated:
Keep a Log of Your Mileage
Keeping a mileage log is an essential step to ensure that you are reimbursed for your travel expenses. Note the miles you drive when you visit your doctor, therapists, or any other treatment approved through workers’ compensation. Keep a note or jotter and write down the date, destination, purpose, miles driven, and money spent on gas and parking.
Keep Track of all Receipts
All receipts related to your travel are valuable in helping you build a good case to receive due repayment for your travel expenses. From receipts for gas to tolls, parking, and public transportation, ensure you keep track of all of them and keep them safe until you can submit them for reimbursement.
How Long Does it Take to Receive Medical Mileage Reimbursement?
Workers’ compensation covers all employees, full or part-time, and the coverage begins after you start the job and continues as long as you are an employee. Once your claim has been settled, you should receive your reimbursement between 14-21 days.
Which Travel Expenses Are Reimbursable Under Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensations are benefits payable to an employee by their employer in the case of injury, disability, or due to a workplace hazard. Compensation benefits could cover medical care to cure or relieve the effects of the injury, payments for lost wages, and rehabilitation services.
If you suffer a workers’ compensation injury, you may be entitled to reimbursement for medical-related travel expenses. These include:
- Mileage
- Lodging
- Meals
- Bus fares
- Train tickets
- Highway tolls
- Parking
- Bridge tolls
It is, therefore, important that you keep receipts for any expenses incurred while receiving treatment for a work-related injury.
The weekly compensation injured workers can receive is based on two-thirds of their average weekly wage, subject to the statutory maximum as of the date of the injury. The maximum weekly compensation rate for a permanent partial disability is less than the maximum for the total disability because the disability is partial and not complete.
How Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Can Help
Getting the medical benefits you are entitled to after a workplace injury can be pretty challenging. A lot of paperwork and documents must be submitted to the insurance company, and the process can take a long time.
Additional complications can arise as insurance companies are known to dispute and deny mileage reimbursement claims, so the process can take a while.
If you find yourself in this situation and are unsure of what to do, you should seek the help of a good lawyer. An experienced personal injury lawyer in St. Louis can assist and guide you through the process, ensuring you receive your due compensation.
Contact the Missouri law firm of Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien, and schedule a free consultation with experienced personal injury attorneys.
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