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How Do I Get Medical Mileage Reimbursed by Workers Comp?
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By Eman Yazdchi, Esq. · Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization · Cal Bar #285231
Yes, California workers' comp requires reimbursement for every round trip to treat the industrial injury, at the IRS mileage rate. Filing a simple form triggers payment; repeated carrier refusals open a liens and penalty process. Most workers leave this money uncollected. Certified Specialist Eman Yazdchi (California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California) recovers mileage as part of every case.
The process is straightforward: track round-trip mileage, submit a DWC Mileage Reimbursement form (or the carrier's equivalent), and receive payment within the statutory timeframe. Complications arise when carriers delay payment, dispute appointment dates, refuse to reimburse non-MPN visits, or apply incorrect per-mile rates. Systematic carrier underpayment triggers the §5814 late-payment penalty, a 10% increase on the delayed amount, but only if the worker files a petition and pursues it.
Below: the documentation system that captures every reimbursable mile, how to pursue unpaid mileage, and how the §5814 penalty petition works when the carrier routinely delays.
What is the legal basis for mileage reimbursement?
California workers' comp law requires reimbursement for transportation costs to and from every medical appointment for the industrial injury, at the IRS mileage rate.
Labor Code §4600 requires the employer (through the carrier) to provide medical treatment including transportation costs to and from treatment. The IRS publishes the medical mileage rate annually, for 2024 it was $0.21 per mile; rates change each January 1. The carrier must reimburse at the prevailing IRS rate for travel during each period of treatment. The reimbursement covers round-trip mileage from home to the treating provider or pharmacy and back.
How do I submit a mileage reimbursement request?
The DWC publishes a standard Mileage Reimbursement form, and most carriers have proprietary equivalents. The form requires: (1) date of each appointment, (2) provider name and address, (3) starting address (usually home), (4) one-way mileage, (5) round-trip mileage, and (6) total mileage for the period. Most carriers prefer monthly or quarterly submissions, though some accept rolling submissions. Most carriers require submission within 90 days of the appointment, though longer windows may apply under §4621 and related sections.
What appointments qualify for mileage reimbursement?
Authorized appointments include: treating physician visits, specialist consultations, physical therapy sessions, diagnostic imaging (MRI, x-ray), pharmacy pickups, QME and AME evaluations, and any other authorized medical or medical-legal travel. Even brief medication pickups at the pharmacy qualify, and over the course of a claim with regular prescription refills, pharmacy mileage adds up substantially. Non-authorized treatment generally does not qualify, though the worker can preserve the documentation in case the treatment is later authorized retroactively.
What if the carrier refuses to pay mileage?
When the carrier refuses to pay mileage after a proper demand, the worker can file a lien claim with the WCAB and request an order compelling reimbursement.
Refusal or delay in mileage reimbursement creates §5814 penalty exposure for unreasonable delay. The penalty is up to 25% of the amount delayed, with a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $10,000. For systematic non-payment of mileage, the cumulative penalty exposure becomes significant. The procedural path is: submit the mileage request, document the failure to pay, and file a Petition for Penalty under §5814 at WCAB. Most mileage disputes resolve once the penalty petition is filed. The California DWC 2024 Annual Report notes that mileage and reimbursement disputes constitute a meaningful share of ongoing comp claim friction.
Related on yazdchilaw.com: California workers' compensation lawyer pillar · what to do if you can't go back to work after a workers' comp injury · what happens if the workers' comp judge mishears your testimony · can you keep workers' comp if you move out of state · California Labor Code §3600 explained.
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Tap to call →In Santa Clarita and across LA County, mileage reimbursement matters because medical specialty access often requires travel to providers across the San Fernando Valley, downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, or other locations. A single MRI appointment in the Valley can be 20-50 round-trip miles from Santa Clarita; a specialist appointment in West LA can be 60-80 round-trip miles. Over a multi-year claim with regular PT, follow-ups, and specialist visits, mileage totals can exceed $5,000 in larger cases.
For local workers, the practical priorities are: (1) keep a simple log of every medical appointment with date and round-trip mileage, (2) submit mileage requests monthly using the DWC form or carrier equivalent, (3) include pharmacy mileage for prescription pickups, (4) preserve appointment confirmation records as documentation, and (5) track payment receipt against submission dates to identify patterns of delay. Yazdchi Law assists clients in recovering unpaid mileage, including filing §5814 penalty petitions when carriers systematically underpay or delay. Most mileage disputes resolve quickly once properly documented and pursued.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current mileage reimbursement rate?
The carrier reimburses at the IRS medical mileage rate in effect during the period of travel. For 2024 the rate was $0.21 per mile; for 2025 the rate adjusts based on IRS announcement (typically released late December). The carrier must apply the rate in effect when the travel occurred, not the rate at submission. Mixing rates is common in cases spanning multiple years, track the rate by year and apply it to that year's travel.
How often should I submit mileage requests?
Most carriers prefer monthly or quarterly submissions and require submission within 90 days of travel. However, longer windows are often permitted under the workers' comp statutes. Submitting monthly creates a predictable rhythm and reduces the chance of losing receipts or forgetting appointments. If you have historical unsubmitted mileage going back months or years, submit it all in a consolidated request, the carrier may pay even outside the typical window, particularly with counsel involvement.
Do pharmacy trips count for mileage?
Yes. Round-trip mileage to pick up authorized prescription medications is reimbursable under §4600 as part of medical care. Over the course of a claim with regular prescription refills, pharmacy mileage adds up meaningfully. Track each pickup with date and pharmacy address. Some workers pick up prescriptions at the same time as other errands; in that case, document the trip as if it were a dedicated medical trip, the law does not require dedicated travel.
What if I take Uber or a taxi to appointments?
Actual transportation costs are reimbursable when mileage is not feasible, for example, if you cannot drive due to your injury or medication, or if you do not have access to a vehicle. Save the receipts and submit them with documentation of the medical necessity (treating physician restriction on driving, lack of vehicle access, etc.). Ride-share and taxi reimbursement is more contested than standard mileage, but with documentation it is recoverable.
Can I get mileage for parking and tolls too?
Yes. Parking fees at medical facilities are reimbursable as medical expenses under §4600 when documented with receipts. Tolls incurred during medical travel are similarly reimbursable. Submit receipts with the mileage form. Cumulative parking and toll expenses on a multi-year claim with frequent specialist appointments can total hundreds or thousands of dollars, worth tracking and submitting.
What if the carrier ignores my mileage requests?
Unreasonable delay or refusal in mileage reimbursement supports a §5814 penalty petition. The penalty is up to 25% of the delayed amount with $100 minimum and $10,000 maximum. Document the submission date and amount, document the lack of payment, and file the petition at WCAB. Most carriers respond to §5814 petitions by paying the underlying mileage plus interest, the penalty is the leverage that gets attention. Systematic mileage non-payment can also support broader bad-faith claims for the case as a whole.
Last reviewed by Eman Yazdchi, Esq., June 2026.
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