Kansas City OWCP Mileage Reimbursement Explained
By Dr. Matt Gianforte, DC · Federal Injury Centers of Kansas City · Updated October 2026
If you have an accepted federal workers’ compensation claim, the trips you make to medical appointments for that injury can be reimbursed. Across the Kansas City metro, those miles add up fast.
This is the short version: which form to use, what rate applies, the 100-mile rule, and the filing deadline. For a longer walk-through with examples, see our full guide to OWCP mileage reimbursement.
What travel is covered
Under 20 CFR 10.315, you are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses, including transportation needed to get authorized medical services, appliances or supplies for your work injury.
In plain terms, that usually means trips to:
- Your treating physician for the accepted condition
- Physical therapy, imaging or other care your physician prescribed and OWCP authorized
- A pharmacy to fill prescriptions for the work injury
- A second opinion or referee exam that OWCP schedules (OWCP also reimburses reasonable expenses for these under 20 CFR 10.322)
Your chosen physician counts. FECA gives you the right to your initial choice of doctor, so the trip does not have to be to a doctor OWCP picked.
The form: OWCP-957
Medical travel is claimed on Form OWCP-957, Medical Travel Refund Request (20 CFR 10.315(d) and 10.802(h)). The regulation says this form must be used.
The Department of Labor’s forms page now lists it in two versions: OWCP-957A for mileage and OWCP-957B for other travel expenses.
Two forms get mixed up a lot:
- OWCP-957 is for travel costs, such as mileage, and related expenses.
- OWCP-915 is for medical bills you paid out of pocket, like a copay you paid at the front desk.
Include proof of payment for any expenses you paid, such as parking or transit receipts. If you are asking for lost wages for time at appointments, the regulation says to include an official statement from your agency showing the amount of wage loss.
Get the current version of the form from the Department of Labor’s forms page and follow the submission instructions printed on it.
The mileage rate: GSA’s POV rate
The Department of Labor says medical mileage is reimbursed at the rate set by the General Services Administration (GSA) for privately owned vehicles (POV). GSA updates that rate from time to time, so check the GSA site for the rate in effect on the dates you drove.
You see, the math is simple. Round-trip miles for each visit, times the GSA rate in effect for that date. The Department of Labor’s FAQ says these payments are currently issued by paper check.
The 100-mile rule
Here’s what I need you to know about distance. Under 20 CFR 10.315(a), a round trip of up to 100 miles is generally considered reasonable.
For non-emergency treatment, you must send OWCP a written request for prior authorization if:
- The round trip will be more than 100 miles, or
- You will need air travel, or
- You will need an overnight stay
The request should describe the circumstances and why the travel is necessary. The regulation notes that requests are often approved for referrals to a specialist.
Most trips inside the Kansas City metro fall well under 100 miles round trip. If you live farther out, or your doctor refers you to a specialist in another city, ask for approval before you go.
Route and type of transportation
The regulation says travel should be by the shortest route and, if practical, by public transportation. If the medical evidence shows you can’t use those, OWCP may authorize a taxi or special transportation.
In practice, most people here drive. Use the shortest reasonable route and log the actual round-trip miles.
The filing deadline
Don’t let receipts sit in a drawer for years. Under 20 CFR 10.803, OWCP won’t pay a request submitted more than one year after the end of the calendar year in which the expense happened, or more than one year after the end of the calendar year in which your claim was first accepted, whichever is later.
Example: for a trip in March 2026 on a claim accepted in 2025, the request should be submitted by the end of 2027.
Filing monthly or every few visits is easier to track and easier to fix if something is missing.
Keep a simple log
- Date of each appointment
- Provider name and address
- Your starting address
- Round-trip miles
- Any parking or transit costs, with receipts
Ask the front desk for a visit confirmation if you need proof you attended.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the wrong form, such as the OWCP-915, for mileage
- Claiming trips for care that isn’t related to the accepted condition
- Driving more than 100 miles round trip for non-emergency care without written approval first
- Leaving off your claim number or the dates of travel
- Waiting so long that the filing deadline passes
If a request is denied
If OWCP decides travel expenses were not reasonable or necessary, or weren’t tied to authorized care, you can use the regular appeal process (20 CFR 10.315(c)). Read the decision letter for the options and deadlines, and see our appeals guide.
How we can help
Federal Injury Centers of Kansas City is in Shawnee, Kansas, at 19701 W 65th Terrace. We provide medical care for injured federal employees and the documentation OWCP needs, including CA-17 duty status reports, CA-20 attending physician’s reports and causal-relationship narratives.
We can give you dated visit records for your mileage log. Our chiropractic care under FECA is limited to spinal manipulation to correct a subluxation shown by x-ray. We are not a law firm and don’t file travel claims for you.
Request a consultation or call (913) 355-6648.
Sources
- 20 CFR 10.315, transportation for medical treatment (eCFR)
- 20 CFR 10.802, reimbursement requests and 10.803, time limits
- DOL OWCP: FECA frequently asked questions (mileage rate)
- DOL OWCP: FECA forms
- GSA: Privately owned vehicle mileage rates
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. For decisions about your claim, contact OWCP or your representative.
