Sandy Tucker
03-16-2007, 12:24 AM
1. Where does the California Division of Workers' Compansation get their figures for the Medical Mileage Rate Reimbursement?
2. I have read that these figures are supposed to be the same as the IRS Mileage Reimburesment Rates. But, I have checked the IRS rates back to 2001 and while they are the same for the years listed that DWC has the same years listed, there are other changes for other years that DWC does not have listed. For example: Here are the different rates. This this correct?
IRS Mileage Rates
Effective Date Rate
1-1-00 - 12-31-00 32.5 cents per mile
1-1-01 - 12-31-01 34.5
1-1-02 - 12-31-02 36.5
1-1-03 - 12-31-03 36.0
1-1-04 - 12-31-04 37.5
1-1-05 - 8-31-05 40.5
9-1-05 - 12-31-05 48.5 (gas price increase allowance)
1-1-06 - 12-31-06 44.5
1-1-07 - 12-31-07 48.5
DWC Mileage Rates
7-1-97 - 9-30-01 31.0 cents per mile
10-1-01 - 6-30-06 34.0
7-1-06 - 12-31-06 44.5
1-1-07 - 48.5
California Sets New Workers' Comp Medical Mileage and Ambulance Service Rates
December 12, 2006
California's Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has announced that the mileage rate that workers' compensation claims administrators pay injured workers for travel related to medical treatment or evaluation of their injuries will increase from 44.5 cents per mile to 48.5 cents per mile beginning Jan. 1, 2007.
State law in conjunction with Government Code and Department of Personnel Administration regulations require claims administrators to reimburse injured workers for such expenses at the rate adopted by the Director of the Department of Personnel Administration for non-represented (excluded) state employees.
The rate is tied to the Internal Revenue Service published mileage rate.
Earlier this week, the IRS announced that as of Jan. 1, 2007, the standard mileage rate will increase to 48.5 cent per business mile driven. DWC said the standard mileage rate is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile, and the primary reasons for the higher rates were higher prices for vehicles and fuel during the year ending in October.
In a separate notice, DWC announced a 4.3 percent increase in the California workers' comp Official Medical Fee Schedule reimbursement rate for ambulance services rendered on or after Jan. 1, 2007. That increase conforms with the calendar year 2007 ambulance inflation factor set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DWC notes that per Labor Code Section 5307.1, it will adjust the Ambulance Services Section of the OMFS to conform to the Medicare change after the final rule adopting the 2007 ambulance inflation factor is published in the Federal Register. DWC Newslines announcing the changes are posted at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/dwc_newsline.html.
Source: DWC
2. I have read that these figures are supposed to be the same as the IRS Mileage Reimburesment Rates. But, I have checked the IRS rates back to 2001 and while they are the same for the years listed that DWC has the same years listed, there are other changes for other years that DWC does not have listed. For example: Here are the different rates. This this correct?
IRS Mileage Rates
Effective Date Rate
1-1-00 - 12-31-00 32.5 cents per mile
1-1-01 - 12-31-01 34.5
1-1-02 - 12-31-02 36.5
1-1-03 - 12-31-03 36.0
1-1-04 - 12-31-04 37.5
1-1-05 - 8-31-05 40.5
9-1-05 - 12-31-05 48.5 (gas price increase allowance)
1-1-06 - 12-31-06 44.5
1-1-07 - 12-31-07 48.5
DWC Mileage Rates
7-1-97 - 9-30-01 31.0 cents per mile
10-1-01 - 6-30-06 34.0
7-1-06 - 12-31-06 44.5
1-1-07 - 48.5
California Sets New Workers' Comp Medical Mileage and Ambulance Service Rates
December 12, 2006
California's Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has announced that the mileage rate that workers' compensation claims administrators pay injured workers for travel related to medical treatment or evaluation of their injuries will increase from 44.5 cents per mile to 48.5 cents per mile beginning Jan. 1, 2007.
State law in conjunction with Government Code and Department of Personnel Administration regulations require claims administrators to reimburse injured workers for such expenses at the rate adopted by the Director of the Department of Personnel Administration for non-represented (excluded) state employees.
The rate is tied to the Internal Revenue Service published mileage rate.
Earlier this week, the IRS announced that as of Jan. 1, 2007, the standard mileage rate will increase to 48.5 cent per business mile driven. DWC said the standard mileage rate is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile, and the primary reasons for the higher rates were higher prices for vehicles and fuel during the year ending in October.
In a separate notice, DWC announced a 4.3 percent increase in the California workers' comp Official Medical Fee Schedule reimbursement rate for ambulance services rendered on or after Jan. 1, 2007. That increase conforms with the calendar year 2007 ambulance inflation factor set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DWC notes that per Labor Code Section 5307.1, it will adjust the Ambulance Services Section of the OMFS to conform to the Medicare change after the final rule adopting the 2007 ambulance inflation factor is published in the Federal Register. DWC Newslines announcing the changes are posted at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/dwc_newsline.html.
Source: DWC
