B-200640: Jul 7, 1981

SINCE HIRED AUTOMOBILE WAS NOT USED FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS BUT WAS NECESSARY MEDICAL EXPENSE CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL AND RELATED EXPENSES MAY NOT BE ALLOWED AS A TRAVEL OR TEMPORARY DUTY EXPENSE. NO AUTHORITY HAS BEEN FOUND FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR CAR RENTAL AS A MEDICAL EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH SEAMEN SUCH AS THE CLAIMANT ARE ENTITLED TO MEDICAL BENEFITS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE...

B-200640: Jul 7, 1981

While serving aboard a ship, a civilian employee suffered a heart attack. He was removed from the ship and hospitalized at the Naval Hospital on Guam. When he was released, he was treated as an outpatient. The attending physician recommended the use of an air conditioned rent-a-car as part of his recuperation because of the hot climate, the patient's physical limitations, the unavailability of pub...