Don’t Forget The Mileage
The workers’ compensation process is not always a quick one, and in most cases, it is a slow and steady uphill battle. Oftentimes, it can take several months after you sustain a work injury before any workers’ compensation benefits kick in. For this reason, it is important to stay organized from the beginning and to know exactly what benefits are available to you that can help offset some of the financial strain you may experience as a result of your work injury. One important benefit that can easily slip through the cracks is mileage and transportation reimbursement.
If your workers’ compensation claim is found to be compensable by the Workers’ Compensation Commission, in addition to benefits for medical treatment and for time you may miss from work as a result of your injury, you are also entitled to reimbursement for the reasonable cost of your transportation to and from treatment appointments.In some special cases, your employer may even provide treatment-related transportation for you through a transportation service.
What type(s) of transportation benefits are covered?
Under Maryland Workers’ Compensation law, an employer is responsible for the cost of transportation to and from medical appointments if the appointments are a result of the claimant’s work injury. This includes transportation to doctor’s visits or other appointments, including appointments or evaluations scheduled by the employer. Also, with the proper documentation, you are entitled to reimbursement for mileage, cab/Uber/Lyft fare, public transportation, parking, tolls, etc. (just to name a few). The most common type of transportation benefit we see however, comes in the form of mileage reimbursement.
What type(s) of benefits are NOT covered?
The law does not allow transportation reimbursement for appointments besides those related to your work-injury, trips to the pharmacy, or reimbursement for any gas used to travel to your appointments (even if related to your injury).
How is mileage reimbursement calculated?
Each year, the Commission sets the mileage reimbursement rate which is used to calculate reimbursement payments per mile traveled.The most recent mileage reimbursement rates are as follows:
- 2018 – .545
- 2017 – .535
- 2016 – .54
For a list of the yearly mileage reimbursement rate dating back to 1980, click here.
To calculate your total mileage reimbursement, multiply the mileage reimbursement rate for that year by the total number of miles traveled.For example, if your doctor’s office is five (5) miles from your home, and you had a doctor’s appointment on January 1, 2018, multiply the mileage reimbursement rate by the total number of miles traveled to and from the appointment:
- [.545 x 10 = $5.45]
In summary, mileage reimbursement is an important benefit of filing a workers’ compensation claim and can provide some relief from the financial burden of a work-related injury. It is extremely important that you document your travel accurately and submit mileage forms and supporting documentation to your attorney regularly. An easy way to keep track of your mileage is by using the Medical Travel Expense Form which can be found in the Document Center on our website.
If you have any questions related to mileage reimbursement or filing a workers’ compensation claim, do not hesitate to contact Kenrick Roberts today at 301-670-6552 or kroberts@bsgfdlaw.com.
