[Employee Assistance Program: Local Travel Expenses]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requested a decision regarding an employee's claim for reimbursement for local travel expenses he incurred in his visit to an Employee Assistance Program counselor for a problem affecting his job performance. GAO held that FCC should reimburse the claimant, since: (1) FCC was authorized to use appropriated funds for certain employee health concerns; (2) the claimant's participation in the program was in the government's interest; (3) the costs were associated with short-term diagnostic and counseling services; and (4) the claimant's supervisor referred the claimant to the program. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.