NAC616C.1168. Payment for travel costs.

An insurer or employer that requests an injured employee to submit to a medical examination pursuant to NRS 616C.140 shall include with the notification required pursuant to subsection 1 of NAC 616C.1162 payment for the travel costs of the injured employee in accordance with the following:

     1. The insurer or employer shall pay for the cost of transportation incurred by the injured employee if the injured employee is required to travel 20 miles or more, one way, from:

     (a) His or her residence to the place of the medical examination; or

     (b) His or her place of employment to the place at which the medical examination will be conducted if the injured employee is required to be examined during his or her normal working hours.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, payment for the cost of transportation must be computed at a rate equal to:

     (a) The mileage allowance for state employees who use their personal vehicles for the convenience of this State; or

     (b) The expense actually incurred by the injured employee for transportation, if the injured employee consents to payment at this rate and the expense is not greater than the amount to which the injured employee would otherwise be entitled pursuant to paragraph (a).

     3. Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the injured employee must travel before 7:00 a.m., between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., or cannot return to his or her residence or place of employment until after 7:00 p.m., or any combination thereof, the insurer or employer shall pay the injured employee for any meals required to be purchased at a rate equal to:

     (a) The rate allowed for state employees; or

     (b) The expense actually incurred by the injured employee for meals, if the injured employee consents to payment at this rate and the expense is not greater than the amount to which the injured employee would otherwise be entitled pursuant to paragraph (a).

     4. The insurer or employer shall pay an injured employee for his or her expenses of travel if the injured employee is required to travel 50 miles or more, one way, from his or her residence or place of employment and is required to remain away from the residence or place of employment overnight. Payment for such expenses must be computed at a rate equal to:

     (a) The per diem allowance authorized for state employees; or

     (b) The expenses actually incurred by the injured employee,

Ê whichever is less.

     5. If the injured employee receives the prior approval of the insurer or employer requesting the medical examination, the injured employee may be paid for airfare if the time, distance, convenience or cost justifies travel by air.

     6. If the injured employee moves outside this State or to a new location within this State for his or her own convenience after filing a claim for compensation, the maximum mileage for one direction for which the injured employee may be paid is the mileage allowable before the move or 40 miles, whichever is greater.

     7. No payment is allowed for a person traveling with an injured employee unless there is a medical necessity that precludes the injured employee from traveling alone. The medical necessity must be substantiated in writing by the treating physician or chiropractor of the injured employee.

     (Added to NAC by Div. of Industrial Relations by R098-98, 12-18-98, eff. 7-1-99)