New York State Workers’ Compensation Law Section 13(a) provides that an employer must not only provide adequate medical treatment but also access to that treatment. Transportation costs should be reimbursed so long as the proper mileage reimbursement request is made by the claimant. Often times, such payments are referred to as “M&T” payments. This is short for medical and transportation.
To properly draft a request you should document the date of treatment, name of doctor or provider, and round trip mileage for each visit. If tolls and paid parking are required, receipts should be submitted as well.
Unfortunately, there is no time frame, outlined in the law, for reimbursement to be made by the carrier. As such, carriers often delay proper reimbursement payments for many months. A Workers’ Compensation hearing may be requested if the carrier’s delay becomes unreasonable.
The effective travel reimbursement rates as of January 1, 2010 are listed below:
| Effective Date | Rate (Cents Per Mile) |
| 1-1-82 | 23 |
| 2-27-89 | 24 |
| 2-20-90 | 26 |
| 1-1-91 | 27.5 |
| 1-1-92 | 28 |
| 1-1-94 | 29 |
| 1-3-95 | 30 |
| 1-2-96 | 31 |
| 1-1-97 | 31.5 |
| 1-1-98 | 32.5 |
| 4-1-99 | 31 |
| 1-1-00 | 32.5 |
| 1-1-01 | 34.5 |
| 1-1-02 | 36.5 |
| 1-1-03 | 36 |
| 1-1-04 | 37.5 |
| 1-1-05 | 40.5 |
| 9-1-05 | 48.5 |
| 1-1-06 | 44.5 |
| 1-1-07 | 48.5 |
| 1-1-08 | 50.5 |
| 7-1-08 | 58.5 |
| 1-1-09 | 55 |
| 1-1-10 | 50 |