R612-300-8. Travel Allowance for Injured Workers

  A. Payment for Travel to Obtain Medical Care. An injured worker who must travel outside his or her community to obtain necessary medical care is entitled to payment of meals and lodging. An injured worker is entitled to other travel expenses regardless of distance. Payors shall reimburse injured workers for these expenses according to the standards set forth in State of Utah Accounting Policies and Procedures, Section FIACCT 10-02.00, "Travel Reimbursement".

  1. All travel must be by the most direct route and to the nearest location where adequate treatment is reasonably available.

  2. Travel may not be required between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless approved by the Commission.

  B. Time Limits for Requesting and Paying Travel Expenses.

  1. Requests for travel reimbursement must be submitted to the payor for payment within one year after the subject travel expenses were incurred;

  2. The payor must pay an injured employee's travel expenses at the earlier of:

  a. Every three months;

  b. Upon accrual of $100 in such expense; or

  c. At closure of the injured worker's claim.

  C. Prescriptions. Travel allowance shall not include picking up prescriptions with the following exceptions:

  1. Travel allowance will be allowed if documentation is provided substantiating a claim that prescriptions cannot be obtained locally within the injured worker's community;

  2. Travel allowance will be allowed in instances where dispensing laws do not allow a medication to be called in to a pharmacy thus requiring an injured worker to physically obtain an original prescription from the provider's office.