SECTION 134.100. Reimbursement of Treating Doctor for Attendance at Required Medical Examination

(a) When an injured employee's treating doctor is present at a required medical examination in accordance with §126.6 of this title (relating to Required Medical Examination), the insurance carrier shall reimburse the treating doctor for time as follows:

(1) at a rate of $100 an hour limited to four hours, unless the insurance carrier pre-approves extended time; and

(2) in quarter hour increments with any amount over 10 minutes considered an additional quarter hour.

(b) Reimbursement is limited to the time required to travel from the treating doctor's usual place of business to the place of the examination. In addition, it includes the duration of the examination and the time required to return from the examination location to the treating doctor's usual place of business. The travel shall be by the most direct route. This time does not include time spent for meals or other elective activities engaged in by the doctor.

(c) The treating doctor shall submit a request for reimbursement in accordance with §133.10 of this title (relating to Required Billing Forms/Formats).

(d) The injured employee's treating doctor shall be the only doctor permitted to attend and charge for the attendance at the examination.

(e) This section shall apply to all dates of travel on or after May 2, 2006.

Source Note: The provisions of this §134.100 adopted to be effective May 2, 2006, 31 TexReg 3561