B-108238, MARCH 11, 1952, 31 COMP. GEN. 465
Highlights
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS - PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES - APPROPRIATION AVAILABILITY THE COST OF A MEDICAL EXAMINATION BY A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN TO DETERMINE THE PHYSICAL ELIGIBILITY OF PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE FOR A GOVERNMENT POSITION IS A PERSONAL EXPENSE OF THE APPLICANT AND IS NOT REIMBURSABLE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS. 1952: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR UNDATED LETTER RECEIVED HERE FEBRUARY 7. THE DISALLOWANCE WAS FOR THE REASON THAT UNDER NAVY CIVILIAN PERSONNEL REGULATIONS SUCH EXAMINATION MAY BE MADE BY A FEDERAL MEDICAL OFFICER FREE OF CHARGE OR BY A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN AT THE EMPLOYEE'S OWN EXPENSE. IT APPEARS THAT UPON FURNISHING A DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE AFTER AN EXAMINATION BY A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN FOR WHICH YOU PAID $12.50 YOU WERE GIVEN TRAVEL ORDERS FROM VANCOUVER.
B-108238, MARCH 11, 1952, 31 COMP. GEN. 465
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS - PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES - APPROPRIATION AVAILABILITY THE COST OF A MEDICAL EXAMINATION BY A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN TO DETERMINE THE PHYSICAL ELIGIBILITY OF PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE FOR A GOVERNMENT POSITION IS A PERSONAL EXPENSE OF THE APPLICANT AND IS NOT REIMBURSABLE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARREN TO GLENN H. NORLING, MARCH 11, 1952:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR UNDATED LETTER RECEIVED HERE FEBRUARY 7, 1952, REQUESTING REVIEW OF THE SETTLEMENT OF JANUARY 21, 1952, WHICH DISALLOWED YOUR CLAIM FOR $12.50 AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF A PREEMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION BEFORE BEING ACCEPTED FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, PEARL HARBOR SHIP YARD, HONOLULU, T.H. THE DISALLOWANCE WAS FOR THE REASON THAT UNDER NAVY CIVILIAN PERSONNEL REGULATIONS SUCH EXAMINATION MAY BE MADE BY A FEDERAL MEDICAL OFFICER FREE OF CHARGE OR BY A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN AT THE EMPLOYEE'S OWN EXPENSE.
IT APPEARS THAT UPON FURNISHING A DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE AFTER AN EXAMINATION BY A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN FOR WHICH YOU PAID $12.50 YOU WERE GIVEN TRAVEL ORDERS FROM VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON, TO HAWAII, BUT UPON ARRIVAL AT PEARL HARBOR YOU WERE GIVEN ANOTHER PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FOR WHICH NO CHARGE WAS MADE.
AS YOU PROCURED THE SERVICES OF A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN FOR YOUR FIRST PHYSICAL EXAMINATION THE COST THEREOF PROPERLY WAS A PERSONAL ONE AND NOT PAYABLE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS. 22 COMP. GEN. 243. WHILE NOT MATERIAL TO THE DISPOSITION OF YOUR CLAIM, IT MAY BE POINTED OUT THAT HAD YOU NOT PROCURED THE FIRST PHYSICAL EXAMINATION YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN EMPLOYMENT, OR ANY TRAVEL ORDERS, TO HAWAII--- SUCH PHYSICAL EXAMINATION BEING A CONDITION PRECEDENT TO EMPLOYMENT. THE FACT THAT THE OFFICIALS AT PEARL HARBOR INSISTED UPON A FURTHER PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AT NO EXPENSE TO YOU DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A LEGAL BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO YOU OF THE COST OF THE ORIGINAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION PROCURED FROM YOUR PRIVATE PHYSICIAN.
UPON REVIEW THE SETTLEMENT APPEARS CORRECT, AND IT MUST BE AND IS SUSTAINED.