[Use of Appropriated Funds To Pay Travel Expenses]

In response to a request from the Defense Logistics Agency, GAO considered whether travel expenses for a required medical examination performed by a private physician some distance from the claimant's official duty station, rather than by a U.S. medical officer at the duty station were payable. GAO noted that, where the agency prescribes that an employee submit to a fitness-for-duty examination, the employee has the option of being examined either at a Government facility or by a personally selected private physician. Further, if travel expenses were reimbursable, the agency asked whether it would be required to impose a reasonable limitation on the distance traveled for which reimbursement may be provided. GAO has held that an agency may use appropriated funds to pay for employees' physical examinations when the examinations primarily benefit the Government rather than the employees. Further, employees are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable incidental travel expenses; however, the agency may use its administrative discretion to impose reasonable limitations on the distance for which the employee may be reimbursed. Accordingly, the travel expenses may be paid to the employee under the qualifications noted.