B-184605, MAY 6, 1976, 55 COMP.GEN. 1080
Highlights
AMBULANCE EXPENSE FOR HIS TRANSPORTATION TO HOSPITAL AT TEMPORARY DUTY POST IS NOT REIMBURSABLE UNDER FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT WHEN HE WAS AT HIS TEMPORARY DUTY STATION. BARTOSCH LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DURING A HIGH-BLOOD PRESSURE SEIZURE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. AS INDICATED IN THE REQUEST FOR A DECISION WE HELD IN 40 COMP.GEN. 167 (1960) THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO BECAME ILL AT A TEMPORARY DUTY STATION AND WHOSE RETURN BY AMBULANCE TO HIS PERMANENT DUTY STATION WAS AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH EXPENSE UNDER THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS. WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF SUCH EXPENSE. WHICH HOLDS THAT AMBULANCE SERVICE CHARGES WOULD NOT BE PAID IF THEY WERE INCURRED AT HEADQUARTERS UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES SIMILAR TO THE CASE OF MR.
B-184605, MAY 6, 1976, 55 COMP.GEN. 1080
TRAVEL EXPENSES - TEMPORARY DUTY - AMBULANCE SERVICES EMPLOYEE, WHILE ON TEMPORARY DUTY, LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DURING A HIGH BLOOD -PRESSURE SEIZURE. AMBULANCE EXPENSE FOR HIS TRANSPORTATION TO HOSPITAL AT TEMPORARY DUTY POST IS NOT REIMBURSABLE UNDER FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS.
IN THE MATTER OF ROBERT J. BARTOSCH-- TEMPORARY DUTY-- AMBULANCE SERVICE, MAY 6, 1976:
BY LETTER OF JULY 17, 1975, MS. JUNE S. LONG, AN AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER FOR THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK BOARD, SUBMITTED FOR ADVANCE DECISION A VOUCHER FOR ROBERT J. BARTOSCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $40 REPRESENTING AMBULANCE EXPENSES INCLUDING COST OF PARAMEDICA, INCURRED ON MARCH 27, 1975. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT WHEN HE WAS AT HIS TEMPORARY DUTY STATION, MR. BARTOSCH LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DURING A HIGH-BLOOD PRESSURE SEIZURE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE.
AS INDICATED IN THE REQUEST FOR A DECISION WE HELD IN 40 COMP.GEN. 167 (1960) THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO BECAME ILL AT A TEMPORARY DUTY STATION AND WHOSE RETURN BY AMBULANCE TO HIS PERMANENT DUTY STATION WAS AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH EXPENSE UNDER THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS-- CURRENTLY FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (FPMR 101 7) PARA. 1- 2.4 (MAY 1973). WITH RESPECT TO AMBULANCE EXPENSES TO HOSPITAL AT A TEMPORARY DUTY STATION, HOWEVER, WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF SUCH EXPENSE. IN THIS CONNECTION SEE B-160272, NOVEMBER 14, 1966, WHICH HOLDS THAT AMBULANCE SERVICE CHARGES WOULD NOT BE PAID IF THEY WERE INCURRED AT HEADQUARTERS UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES SIMILAR TO THE CASE OF MR. BARTOSCH ON TEMPORARY DUTY. GENERAL, FOR A PRESENTATION OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT OF MEDICAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING RELATED TRAVEL EXPENSES, WHICH ARE INCURRED PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GOVERNMENT, SEE 49 COMP.GEN. 794 (1970) AND 47 ID. 54 (1967).
ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.