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B-160272, NOV. 14, 1966

B-160272 Nov 14, 1966
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THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF YOUR HEADQUARTERS WAS CALLED TO THE DUTY STATION OF THE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS EXAMINED AND THEN TAKEN TO THE DISPENSARY AT 3:45 P.M. THE EMPLOYEE'S AILMENT WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING A GENERALIZED CONVULSION. THE GATEWAY AMBULANCE SERVICE WAS CALLED TO TRANSFER THE EMPLOYEE FROM THE CENTER TO AN NON-GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. THE DIAGNOSIS AT THE HOSPITAL REVEALED THE EMPLOYEE WAS SUFFERING FROM A BRAIN TUMOR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE EMPLOYEE'S CONVULSION WAS NOT THE RESULT OF AN ON-THE-JOB INJURY OR AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE. THE LONG STANDING RULE IS THAT THE EXPENSE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT IS PERSONAL TO THE EMPLOYEE UNLESS SUCH BENEFITS ARE PROVIDED IN HIS CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT OR PURSUANT TO STATUTE OR VALID REGULATION. 22 COMP.

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B-160272, NOV. 14, 1966

TO ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE OFFICER HEADQUARTERS, AERONAUTICAL CHART AND INFORMATION CENTER DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE:

THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 28, 1966, AND ENCLOSURES, REFERENCE ACCF, FORWARDED ON OCTOBER 19, 1966, BY THE DIRECTORATE OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE, REFERENCE AFAAFD, REQUESTING OUR DECISION CONCERNING THE PROPRIETY OF PAYMENT FROM APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE FURNISHED TO MR. ALBERT A. MATTINGLY, A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF HEADQUARTERS, AERONAUTICAL CHART AND INFORMATION CENTER, DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE.

YOU SAY THAT ON MARCH 7, 1966, THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF YOUR HEADQUARTERS WAS CALLED TO THE DUTY STATION OF THE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS EXAMINED AND THEN TAKEN TO THE DISPENSARY AT 3:45 P.M. THE EMPLOYEE'S AILMENT WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING A GENERALIZED CONVULSION, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. UPON THE MEDICAL OFFICER'S CONCLUSION THAT THE EMPLOYEE REQUIRED IMMEDIATE HOSPITALIZATION, THE GATEWAY AMBULANCE SERVICE WAS CALLED TO TRANSFER THE EMPLOYEE FROM THE CENTER TO AN NON-GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. THE DIAGNOSIS AT THE HOSPITAL REVEALED THE EMPLOYEE WAS SUFFERING FROM A BRAIN TUMOR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE EMPLOYEE'S CONVULSION WAS NOT THE RESULT OF AN ON-THE-JOB INJURY OR AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE. THE GATEWAY AMBULANCE SERVICE RENDERED ITS BILL TO THE CENTER REQUESTING PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $20 FOR THE AMBULANCE SERVICE RENDERED TO THE EMPLOYEE.

THE LONG STANDING RULE IS THAT THE EXPENSE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT IS PERSONAL TO THE EMPLOYEE UNLESS SUCH BENEFITS ARE PROVIDED IN HIS CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT OR PURSUANT TO STATUTE OR VALID REGULATION. 22 COMP. GEN. 32 AND DECISIONS THERE CITED.

AS TO DISPENSARY AND HEALTH SERVICES GENERALLY FURNISHED TO THE CIVILIAN SERVICE, SEE 5 U.S.C. 150, 1964 ED. (NOW 5 U.S.C. 7901, 80 STAT. 530).

THE DIRECTORATE OF CIVILIAN PERSONNEL, DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE (PENTAGON) INFORMS US THAT THE RECORDS OF THE CIVILIAN PERSONNEL OFFICE AT YOUR HEADQUARTERS SHOW THE EMPLOYEE NAMED IN YOUR LETTER IS ENROLLED UNDER THE "HIGH OPTION" SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS ACT, 5 U.S.C., SECTION 3004 (1), 1964 ED. (NOW 5 U.S.C. 8904 (1) (. WE ENCLOSE HEREWITH A COPY OF BROCHURE NO. BRI 41-25 REVISED JANUARY 1, 1966, BY THE UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

THE BROCHURE INDICATES ON PAGE 9 THAT AN ENROLLEE'S "SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS" INCLUDE LOCAL PROFESSIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE TO OR FROM A HOSPITAL FOR INPATIENTS, OR FOR OUTPATIENT ACCIDENT CARE. THEREFORE, WE SUGGEST THAT THE SUBJECT INVOICE, ENCLOSED HEREWITH, SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE GATEWAY AMBULANCE SERVICE WITH THE VIEW THAT IT MAY BE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE "BLUE CROSS" CLAIMS OFFICE INDICATED ON PAGE 17 AND 18 OF THE BROCHURE.

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AS THE SUBMITTED VOUCHER IS NOT PAYABLE FROM APPROPRIATED FUNDS, IT AND DD FORM 1155 ARE RETAINED IN OUR FILE.

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