October 2009
The Board has adopted an amendment to Chapter 4 of the Board Rules that increases the cost for independent medical examinations under 39-A M.R.S.A. §312. The mileage rate has been raised from $0.26 per mile to $0.44 per mile. Reimbursement for overnight lodging has been raised from $45.00 to a maximum of $120.00 per night. This is now available to employees who travel 100 miles or more from home instead of the 150 miles that was previously in place.
The reimbursement rates for meals stays the same but is now available to employees that travel 50 miles or more from home instead of 80 miles. Finally, 312 examiners are now able to charge $300.00 per hour instead of $200.00 per hour and may charge up to 5 hours instead of the 4 hours that was previously in place.
The Board has also adopted an amendment to Chapter 12 of the Board Rules which raises the mileage rate for hearing attendance from $0.26 per mile to $0.44 per mile.