Compliance Corner
When an injured worker seeks reimbursement under North Dakota workers’ compensation law, what steps must she follow? Thanks to Simply Research, we take a look.
Basics
Requests for reimbursement must be received within 1 year from the date of the expense. If a worker chooses medical
treatment outside your local area where care is available, travel reimbursement may be denied.
Mileage Reimbursement
Injured employee must travel over 50 miles one way or have a total of 200 miles in a calendar month to be eligible
for reimbursement. Travel must be to obtain the closest medical or hospital care.
- Workforce Safety & Insurance calculates mileage from street address to street address using Google
Maps. - WSI pays mileage at the current state rate.
- Receipts are not needed.
- Mileage reimbursement is for personal vehicles, not public transportation or rental cars.
Meal Reimbursement
Reimbursement is allowed for travel while away from the normal place of living residence for 4 hours or more. Injured
employees will not be reimbursed for the first quarter if travel began after 7 a.m. To claim expenses for the second and
third quarters, the injured employee must have begun travel at least 1 hour before the start of the quarter being claimed,
and travel must extend at least 1 hour into the quarter being claimed. The expense allowance for each quarter of any 24
hour period effective Oct. 1, 2024 is outlined in North Dakota Century Code § 44-08-04.
First quarter: 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. | In-state: $9 | Out-of-state: 20% of GSA M&IE rate
Second quarter: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. | In-state: $14 | Out-of-state: 30% of GSA M&IE rate
Third quarter: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. | In-state: $22 | Out-of-state: 50% of GSA M&IE rate
Fourth quarter: 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. | In-state: N/A | Out-of-state: N/A
Lodging Reimbursement
- Lodging expenses may be reimbursed if they are necessary and reasonable.
- Itemized receipts are required.
- WSI pays the actual cost of lodging, when the actual cost is less than the reimbursement amount.
