Did you know that if you were hurt on the job in Massachusetts and your injuries require medical attention, you may be eligible for reimbursement for travel to and from doctors’ or other medical providers' appointments. The mileage reimbursement is covered by M.G.L. c. 152 §§ 13 & 30 and 452 CMR §§ 1.07 (2) (c). This reimbursement falls under medical benefits from the workers’ compensation insurance that provides that injured workers be entitled to reimbursement for all out-of-pocket medical expenses, including reimbursement for travel. Keep in mind, the reimbursement is for the total roundtrip mileage – this is usually the number of miles from home to the doctor and then back home.
The current rate of mileage reimbursement in Massachusetts was recently changed in May of 2022 from 45 cents to 58.5 cents per mile. The primary reason for the change in the mileage reimbursement rate was due to the increased cost of travel in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A lot of times, after a worker has been hurt on the job, the workers’ compensation insurance carrier provides the injured worker with an initial package that includes a mileage reimbursement form. This form typically requires the injured worker to document the date of the medical appointment, the doctor and medical office or facility attended, the starting address, and destination address.
However, in our experience with many injured clients that we have represented, the insurance company does not always inform or notify the injured worker of the right to mileage reimbursement. That's why we always recommend that injured workers keep a diary or calendar of all of their doctors' appointments so they can later add up the mileage and calculate the reimbursement amount.