DWC Proposes New Travel Reimbursement Form
The Division of Workers’ Compensation is accepting public comments on a proposed update to DWC Form-048, Request to Get Reimbursed for Travel Costs.
The most important proposed change in this form is that the Division has created 
space for the insurance carrier’s response on the first page of the form just below the claimant’s explanation of the requested reimbursement. This is important because the carrier’s response used to be on the second page of the form. Many times claimants only provided carriers with the first page of the form and, not infrequently, carriers failed to respond to the request because they did not know that there was a second page that required a carrier’s response.
FOL suggested the change to the Division several months ago. The proposed update will prevent delays in reimbursing injured employees for travel expenses by making it clear that injured employees should submit the form to the insurance carrier, not to DWC. This will have a salutary effect of reducing the opportunity for carrier error by failing to respond to the request in a timely fashion.
The Agency has posted the proposed form on the DWC website.
You may email written comments on the proposed rules to RuleComments@tdi.texas.gov, or mail or deliver your comments to:
Cynthia Guillen
DWC Legal Services, MS-4D
Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100
Austin, Texas 78744-1645
The deadline to submit comments is 5 p.m., Central time, on August 28, 2020.
If you have any questions, please contact James R. Sheffield, III at (512) 435.2169 or JRS@fol.com.
FOLIO
