Some of the mandatory medical appointments and exams under Workers’ Comp require you to travel. You may be able to get this travel provided for you, or at least get reimbursed for the mileage to get there.
Workers’ Comp allows employers to require the injured worker to attend certain medical exams or interviews with experts, and any travel expenses to get to those appointments must be covered under § 314 of the Workers’ Comp Act. Mileage reimbursements are not available for appointments with your treating physicians and other care providers unless you meet certain requirements, such as having to travel over 100 miles to receive care.
For help with your injury case, call Cardamone Law’s Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at (267) 651-7945.
Reimbursement for Travel to Independent Medical Exams
As part of getting your Workers’ Comp claim approved, your employer may require you to attend an IME – an independent medical exam. These exams are hardly independent, as the employer chooses the doctor to review you and make determinations about your injuries.
Travel expenses to get to an IME should be covered under Workers’ Comp. The insurance carrier may even be able to provide this transportation for you, or else compensate you for mileage, parking, bus fares, or whatever other expenses you incur.
Do I Get Reimbursement for Mileage to Attend Appointments?
Your typical travel to and from treatment appointments is usually not covered. This coverage used to be part of the Workers’ Comp Act, but it was specifically removed later, blocking compensation for travel or mileage to “local” treatment appointments.
However, courts have recognized exceptions:
When Transportation is Like Other Covered Transportation
Emergency transportation in an ambulance is covered under Workers’ Comp. That means similar transportation, such as ambulance transportation for bedridden workers, should be covered as well.
Transportation is Part of Treatment
“Reasonable surgical and medical services” are supposed to be covered. When transportation is deemed part of those services, that should also be covered. This usually arises when it would be impossible to get the needed care without transportation being provided.
Long-Distance Travel
Along with this “reasonable” services requirement, courts have allowed reimbursement for “long-distance” travel over 100 miles. Anything else is considered “local” and is not reimbursed.
If the employer is the one requiring care with the long-distance provider, you also have to prove that…
- They knew the provider was so far away
- The worker was “specifically referred to” that provider
- Closer treatment wasn’t available and
- That long-distance care was “an integral part of the ongoing medical treatment.”
When the worker is the one choosing long-distance care from a provider of their choice, reimbursement is not allowed if a comparable provider was available within 100 miles.
If no treatment is available locally, they can still get travel covered if they choose the next nearest or most reasonable “facility where others are or would be referred.”
Mileage Reimbursement Rate
When you get compensated for mileage to attend an IME, the rate should be on par with the business reimbursement rate. The IRS sets a value each year for mileage reimbursement:
- 2024: $0.67/mile
- 2025: $0.70/mile
- 2026: Not yet announced as of this writing.
If other travel expenses are necessary, such as hotel stays or flight costs to see specialists quite far away, then those reasonable costs should be covered, too.
What if I Need an Ambulance or Other Transportation?
If your condition is such that you can’t actually drive yourself to appointments and need specialized medical transport like an ambulance or a similar vehicle, the insurance carrier should provide this for you, or at least reimburse you for the reasonable costs associated.
How to Track Travel Reimbursements
Our Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp attorneys can help you identify the proof and documentation you need to prove the travel expenses, but these usually help:
- Track your vehicle mileage and trip distance every time you leave to go to an appointment.
- Save receipts for travel-related expenses, such as gas, hotel/motel costs, and parking.
- Keep a record of the distance and time it took to travel.
In addition, talk to your attorney about which doctors you are choosing to treat with and whether transportation would be covered, so that you know ahead of time what to expect compensation for.
FAQs for Mileage Reimbursement Under Workers’ Comp
Does Workers’ Comp Reimburse for Travel to Doctor’s Appointments?
The general rule is no reimbursement for travel to treatment appointments. However, if you needed to travel a long distance (over 100 miles) or needed specialized transportation (e.g., an ambulance), it might be covered.
Does Workers’ Comp Reimburse for Travel to IMEs?
If you are required to attend an IME or similar exam or interview with a doctor your employer chooses to collect information on you, that travel should be covered.
Does Workers’ Comp Cover Other Costs I Face for Attending IMEs?
If you have to miss work to attend an IME, lost wages should be covered alongside medical expenses.
Are There Other Mileage Reimbursements in the Workers’ Comp Act?
Many sections of the Workers’ Comp Act cover travel and mileage reimbursements for state employees in the Workers’ Comp system rather than injured workers, so you should be careful about what sections of the law you are reading and review your claim with an attorney.
What is the Mileage reimbursement Rate?
For 2025, the mileage reimbursement rate should be around 70¢ per mile driven.
How Do I Calculate Mileage Reimbursements?
While you might think to use your total amount spent on gas and break that down by miles driven, mileage reimbursements are not usually so personalized. Instead of looking at the actual amount you spent on travel, courts typically use a reimbursement rate for each mile driven.
For 2025, that rate is about 70¢ per mile, meaning you multiply the number of miles driven by $0.70 to find the total cost you can claim for mileage reimbursements.
Call Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Pennsylvania Today
For help with your claim, call the Philadelphia Workers’ Comp lawyers at Cardamone Law at (267) 651-7945.
