[Decision on HHS Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement of Costs of Medically Necessitated Air Ambulance Transportation]

The Department of Health and Human Services requested a decision as to whether it should reimburse an employee for her expenses incident to her emergency travel with her newborn son by air ambulance during her temporary duty assignment. GAO noted that the employee gave birth prematurely while on official travel, which her physician and her agency had approved. GAO held that the employee was entitled to reimbursement for her emergency travel expenses since: (1) she was on official travel when she gave birth; and (2) the air-ambulance transportation was essential for the safe return of herself and her newborn son to her permanent duty station. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.