(1) For claims arising before July 1, 1989, reimbursement for travel expenses shall be determined as follows:

(a) Personal automobile and private airplane mileage expenses shall be reimbursed at the current rates specified for state employees. Prior authorization from the insurer is required for the use of a private airplane. Total reimbursable automobile miles shall be determined according to the most direct highway route between the injured worker's residence and the provider.

(b) Expenses for eligible meals shall be reimbursed at the meal rates established for state employees.

(c) Actual out-of-pocket receipted lodging expenses incurred by injured workers shall be reimbursed up to the maximum amounts established for state employees. Lodging in those areas specifically designated as high cost cities shall be reimbursed at actual cost. Any claim for receipted or high cost lodging reimbursement must be accompanied by an original receipt from a licensed lodging facility. If the injured worker stays in a nonreceiptable facility, or fails to obtain a receipt, the reimbursement is the amount set for state employees for nonreceipted lodging.

(d) Miscellaneous transportation expenses, such as taxi fares or parking fees, are reimbursable and must be supported by paid receipts.

(e) Requests for travel reimbursement must be made within a reasonable time following the date(s) the travel was incurred.

(2) For claims arising during the period July 1, 1989, through June 30, 1993, reimbursement for travel expenses shall be determined as follows:

(a) Personal automobile and private airplane mileage expenses shall be reimbursed at the current rates specified for state employees. Prior authorization from the insurer is required for the use of a private airplane. Total reimbursable automobile miles shall be determined according to the most direct highway route between the injured worker's residence and the provider. When the travel coincides in whole or in part with the injured worker's regular travel to or from the worker's employment, the coincident mileage may be subtracted from the reimbursable mileage. For each calendar month, the first 50 miles of automobile mileage is not reimbursable.

(b) Expenses for eligible meals shall be reimbursed at the meal rates established for state employees.

(c) Actual out-of-pocket receipted lodging expenses incurred by injured workers shall be reimbursed up to the maximum amounts established for state employees. Lodging in those areas specifically designated as high cost cities shall be reimbursed at actual cost. Any claim for receipted or high cost lodging reimbursement must be accompanied by an original receipt from a licensed lodging facility. If the injured worker stays in a nonreceiptable facility, or fails to obtain a receipt, the reimbursement is the amount set for state employees for nonreceipted lodging.

(d) Miscellaneous transportation expenses, such as taxi fares or parking fees, are reimbursable and must be supported by paid receipts.

(e) Claims for reimbursement of travel expenses must be submitted within 90 days of the date the expenses are incurred, on a form furnished by the insurer. Claims for reimbursement that are not submitted within 90 days may be denied by the insurer.

(3) For claims arising from July 1, 1993, through June 30, 2001, travel expenses are not reimbursed unless the travel is at the request of the insurer. Travel is "at the request of the insurer" when the insurer directs the claimant to: change treating physician; attend an independent medical examination; use a preferred provider; or be treated by a managed care organization. If travel expenses are to be reimbursed, then reimbursement shall be determined as follows:

(a) Personal automobile and private airplane mileage expenses shall be reimbursed at the current rates specified for state employees. Prior authorization from the insurer is required for the use of a private airplane. Total reimbursable automobile miles shall be determined according to the most direct highway route between the injured worker's residence and the provider. For each calendar month, the first 50 miles of automobile mileage is not reimbursable. In addition, travel within the community in which the worker resides shall not be reimbursed.

(b) Expenses for eligible meals shall be reimbursed at the meal rates established for state employees.

(c) Actual out-of-pocket receipted lodging expenses incurred by injured workers shall be reimbursed up to the maximum amounts established for state employees. Lodging in those areas specifically designated as high cost cities shall be reimbursed at actual cost. Any claim for receipted or high cost lodging reimbursement must be accompanied by an original receipt from a licensed lodging facility. If the injured worker stays in a nonreceiptable facility, or fails to obtain a receipt, the reimbursement is the amount set for state employees for nonreceipted lodging.

(d) Miscellaneous transportation expenses, such as taxi fares or parking fees, are reimbursable and must be supported by paid receipts.

(e) Claims for reimbursement of travel expenses must be submitted within 90 days of the date the expenses are incurred, on a form furnished by the insurer. Claims for reimbursement that are not submitted within 90 days may be denied by the insurer.

(4) For claims arising on or after July 1, 2001, payment of travel expense is subject to the following:

(a) Claims for reimbursement of travel expenses must be submitted within 90 days of the date the expenses are incurred, on a form furnished by the insurer. Claims for travel expense reimbursement that are not submitted within 90 days may be denied by the insurer. The insurer must notify the injured worker in writing that the request for travel expense reimbursement must be submitted within 90 days from the date the expense was incurred in order to be reimbursed. If the insurer fails to notify the claimant of the claimant's entitlement to travel expenses and 90 days have passed since the expense was incurred, the insurer must pay the travel.

(b) The type of travel selected must be the least costly form of travel unless the travel is not suitable for the claimant's medical condition, as certified by the claimant's physician.

(c) Reimbursement of travel is excluded under the following conditions:

(i) The first 100 miles of automobile travel are excluded each month unless the insurer requested the travel pursuant to 39-71-605 , MCA.

(ii) Travel to a medical provider within the claimant's community is excluded.

(iii) Travel outside the claimant's community is excluded if comparable treatment is available within the community, unless the insurer requests the claimant to travel to another community.

(iv) Travel is excluded when it is incurred while traveling to unauthorized or disallowed treatment or procedures.

(d) For purposes of this rule, "community" means the area within a 15 mile radius of the claimant's residence as determined by the most direct automobile route between the claimant's residence and the provider.

(e) The insurer is not liable for injuries that result from an accident that occurs during travel for treatment of the claim as provided in 39-71-704 , MCA.

(f) Reimbursement for travel expenses shall be determined as follows:

(i) Personal automobile and private airplane mileage expenses shall be reimbursed at the current rates specified for state employees. Prior authorization from the insurer is required for the use of a private airplane. Total reimbursable automobile miles shall be determined according to the most direct highway route between the claimant's residence and the provider.

(ii) Expenses for eligible meals shall be reimbursed at the meal rates established for state employees.

(iii) Actual out-of-pocket receipted lodging expenses incurred by the claimant shall be reimbursed up to the maximum amounts established for state employees. Lodging in those areas specifically designated as high cost cities shall be reimbursed at actual cost. Any claim for receipted or high cost lodging reimbursement must be accompanied by an original receipt from a licensed lodging facility. If the claimant stays in a nonreceiptable facility, or fails to obtain a receipt, the reimbursement is the amount set for state employees for nonreceipted lodging.

(iv) Miscellaneous transportation expenses, such as taxi fares or parking fees, are reimbursable and must be supported by paid receipts.

(5) Preauthorized expenses incurred for direct commercial transportation by air or ground, including rental vehicles, shall be reimbursed when no other less costly form of travel is available to the claimant, or when less costly forms of travel are not suitable to the claimant's medical condition, as certified by the claimant's physician.

(a) If a claimant chooses to use commercial transportation when a less costly form of travel suitable to the claimant's medical condition is available, as certified by the claimant's physician, reimbursement shall be made according to the rates associated with the least costly form of travel.

(6) For occupational disease claims arising prior to July 1, 2005, if liability has not been accepted on the claim and the department schedules a medical examination as provided in 39-72-602 , MCA, the insurer shall reimburse the claimant for the travel expenses incurred for the examination pursuant to this rule.

(7) The department shall make available to interested parties the specific information referenced in this rule concerning rates for transportation, meals, and lodging; meal time ranges; and designations of high cost cities. The department shall inform interested parties in a timely manner of all applicable updates to this information.