Mileage reimbursement in Nevada workers’ compensation cases

A Nevada injured worker can obtain reimbursement for travel costs to attend medical appointments or rehabilitation services from insurers who have agreed to provide workers’ compensation accident benefits. Under specific conditions, reimbursement is available for:

• mileage at 62.5 cents per mile for travel over 20 miles one way or 40 miles in one week
• meals at $13-$31 depending on the meal and location
• lodging at $96 to $126 depending on the location and time of year
• airfare at the cost of ticketing with prior insurance company approval

An injured worker must submit an Application for Reimbursement of Claim Related Travel Expenses.

The request includes:

• date
• travel from
• travel to
• travel time
• miles
• meals
• lodging
• total travel
• dollar value

The form must be submitted within 60 days of the incurred cost.

In this article, our Las Vegas Nevada workers’ comp lawyers will explain:

• 1. When can an injured worker receive reimbursement?
  • 1.1. Mileage reimbursement
  • 1.2. Meal reimbursement
  • 1.3. Hotel reimbursement
  • 1.4. Reimbursement options
  • 1.5. Airfare reimbursement
• 2. Choice of treatment
• 3. Moving and reimbursement
• 4. What is the standard reimbursement amount?
• 5. Requesting reimbursement

1. When can an injured worker receive reimbursement?

An injured worker who receives accident benefits is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses under specific conditions.¹

The injured worker must first file a claim for a Nevada workers’ compensation injury.

Mileage and other reimbursements are some of the benefits available to injured workers. Injured workers can also receive

• temporary disability,
• permanent disability,
• vocational rehabilitation, and
• death benefits.

Reimbursement applies to all professions, including police officers and firefighters. It applies to all types of injuries, including occupational injuries and catastrophic injuries.

1.1. Mileage reimbursement

Mileage reimbursement is available to an injured worker who has to travel more than 20 miles one way from his or her home or place of employment to the location of the medical care.²

An injured worker can also receive mileage reimbursement for traveling a total of 40 miles in one week for medical care or rehabilitation.³

An injured worker who travels more than 20 miles to attend a hearing on an appeal by the insurance company and prevails at that hearing can also receive mileage reimbursement.⁴

1.2. Meal reimbursement

An injured worker who has to travel before 7:00 a.m., between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. or cannot return home before 7:00 p.m. can receive meal reimbursement.⁵

1.3. Hotel reimbursement

An injured worker who travels more than 50 miles from his or her home or workplace to a medical appointment and must remain away overnight can receive reimbursement for a hotel stay.⁶

1.4. Reimbursement options

In all cases the amount reimbursed is:

1. the mileage or per diem allowance that state employees would receive or
2. the actual cost of the transportation, but not to exceed the amount in (1)

1.5. Airfare reimbursement

If necessary, the injured employee may be reimbursed for airfare after receiving prior approval by the insurance company.⁷

Example: Mike injures his back at work and required surgery. Mike lives in Carson City, but the closest specialist is location in Las Vegas.

The insurance company authorizes Mike to fly from Carson City to Las Vegas for spinal surgery.

The insurance company will pay for Mike’s airfare for the trip.

2. Choice of treatment

An injured worker who chooses to travel to a farther location for medical treatment when a closer location is available will not receive reimbursement for the farther location.⁸

Example: Kaylee wants to be treated by a doctor who is 37 miles from her home. But there is another doctor available 22 miles from her home.

Kaylee can only submit mileage reimbursement for 22 miles each way to her medical appointments.

3. Moving and reimbursement

An injured worker who moves residences after being injured will only be reimbursed for medical travel for the mileage from his or her home before the move or up to 40 miles whichever is greater.⁹

Example: Aiden is injured at work and then moves from Reno to Sparks. This makes his total mileage for trips to his doctor 46 miles instead of 30.

Aiden is only entitled to reimbursement for 40 miles for the week.

4. What is the standard reimbursement amount?

The mileage reimbursement for Nevada injured workers as of January 1, 2023 is 62.5 cents per mile.¹⁰

4.1. Meals and incidentals (M&IE)

In Las Vegas, Reno, Incline Village and Sparks, the daily M&IE reimbursement rate is $69. This includes:

• Breakfast: $16
• Lunch: $17
• Dinner: $31
• Incidentals: $5
• First and last day of travel: $51.75 (75% of the total M&IE)

Otherwise, the standard daily M&IE reimbursement rate is $59. This includes:

• Breakfast: $13
• Lunch: $15
• Dinner: $26
• Incidentals: $5
• First and last day of travel: $44.25 (75% of the total M&IE)¹¹

4.2. Lodging

In Las Vegas, the lodging reimbursement rate is $120 a day.

In Reno, Sparks, or Incline Village, the lodging reimbursement rate is usually $102 a day. But the rate becomes $126 a day in July and August.

Otherwise, the daily lodging reimbursement rate is $96.¹²

5. Requesting reimbursement

A Nevada workers’ compensation reimbursement is requested by using an Application for Reimbursement of Claim Related Travel Expenses.¹³

The request includes:

• date
• travel from
• travel to
• travel time
• miles
• meals
• lodging
• total travel
• dollar value

The form requests a signature to ensure that the injured worker understands that:

“The reporting of false information may disqualify me from receiving workers’ compensation benefits and may subject me to criminal and civil penalties.”¹⁴

A claim for reimbursement must be submitted within 60 days of the expense.¹⁵

Remembering to claim reimbursement

Reimbursement may not be a major benefit, but it can be worth several hundred dollars to an injured worker.

An injured worker needs to be aware of his or her reimbursement rights, and timely claim reimbursement.

Call us for help…

If you or someone you care about was injured at work in Nevada, our Las Vegas workers’ compensation attorneys may be able to get you compensation. (For California cases, please see our page on mileage and travel expense reimbursement in California worker’s compensation cases.)

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