August 31, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — California injured workers are now subject to an updated transportation reimbursement rate for travel associated with medical treatment. The Division of Workers’ Compensation increased the applicable mileage rate to 76 cents per mile for medical and medical-legal travel beginning July 1, 2026.
The change was announced by DWC on July 23 and represents a 3.5-cent increase from the 72.5-cent rate that applied during the first half of 2026. The new rate applies to qualifying travel occurring on or after July 1, regardless of when the underlying workplace injury occurred.
The updated workers compensation mileage rate is relevant to injured workers traveling to physicians, hospitals, therapy appointments, pharmacies, and medical-legal evaluations. It also affects claims administrators, attorneys, medical providers, and other participants responsible for administering California workers’ compensation benefits.
California Increases Workers Compensation Mileage Reimbursement
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation announced that the mileage reimbursement rate for medical and medical-legal travel increased from 72.5 cents to 76 cents per mile effective July 1, 2026.
The increase applies to travel occurring on or after the effective date rather than being limited to injuries occurring after July 1. This distinction is important because an injured worker with a claim dating back several years may still qualify for the new rate when traveling for qualifying medical care after the effective date.
The updated workers compensation mileage policy is part of the state’s broader framework for reimbursing reasonable transportation expenses associated with treatment for workplace injuries. DWC’s current benefits information identifies mileage, parking, and bridge tolls as transportation expenses that may be reimbursable when an injured worker must travel for treatment.
The New Rate Applies Beginning July 1
The effective date is one of the most important aspects of the 2026 change.
Travel occurring on or after July 1, 2026 is subject to the 76-cent rate. The rate does not depend on whether the underlying injury happened before or after July 1. DWC expressly states that the new rate applies regardless of the date of injury.
This means injured workers should distinguish between the date of injury and the date of transportation. A claim originating before the rate change can still qualify for workers compensation mileage reimbursement at the new rate when qualifying medical travel occurs on or after July 1.
For claims administrators, maintaining accurate travel dates is therefore important when reviewing reimbursement requests.
What Workers Compensation Mileage Covers
The workers compensation mileage reimbursement system is designed to address reasonable transportation expenses associated with obtaining treatment for a work-related injury.
DWC states that reasonable transportation expenses can include mileage, parking, and bridge tolls. Its benefits guidance specifically identifies travel to doctors, hospitals, therapy, and pharmacies as circumstances in which mileage may be payable.
This makes transportation reimbursement an important practical component of workers’ compensation benefits.
An injured worker may require repeated appointments over an extended treatment period. Even when each individual trip represents a relatively modest expense, repeated travel can create a meaningful financial burden over time.
Why the Mileage Increase Matters to Injured Workers
Transportation costs can become an overlooked part of recovering from a workplace injury.
An injured worker may need to travel to medical appointments multiple times over several weeks or months. Depending on the injury and availability of appropriate providers, appointments may also require longer-distance travel.
The increase in workers compensation mileage reimbursement provides a higher per-mile payment for qualifying travel beginning July 1.
At 76 cents per mile, the reimbursement rate is 3.5 cents higher than the 72.5-cent rate that applied from January 1 through June 30, 2026.
For workers with frequent appointments, the cumulative difference can become more noticeable.
Medical Appointments Can Create Significant Travel
Workers’ compensation treatment does not always occur close to an injured worker’s home.
Specialized treatment may require travel to particular physicians, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, pharmacies, or other providers.
In some cases, an injured worker may also need to attend a medical-legal evaluation connected with a disputed claim.
The updated workers compensation mileage rate applies to qualifying medical and medical-legal travel, providing a common reimbursement rate for these categories.
This can be particularly relevant when treatment involves recurring appointments or when specialized medical services are not readily available nearby.
Medical-Legal Travel Is Also Included
The July 2026 update does not apply solely to routine medical appointments.
DWC specifically identifies both medical and medical-legal travel as covered categories for purposes of the mileage rate.
Medical-legal evaluations can play an important role in California workers’ compensation disputes, particularly when questions arise concerning disability, impairment, causation, or other contested medical issues.
The workers compensation mileage rate therefore has relevance beyond ordinary treatment appointments. An injured worker traveling to a qualifying medical-legal evaluation may also encounter transportation expenses subject to the applicable reimbursement rules.
The Rate Is Linked to Federal Mileage Policy
California’s reimbursement methodology is not established in isolation.
DWC explains that Labor Code section 4600, Government Code section 19820, and applicable California regulations establish the mileage reimbursement rate and tie it to the rate established by the Internal Revenue Service.
For the July 2026 increase, DWC referenced IRS Bulletin IR-2026-29, issued July 13, 2026, which announced the corresponding federal mileage-rate increase.
This connection helps explain why California’s workers compensation mileage rate can change when the underlying federal mileage rate changes.
Claims Administrators Need Accurate Travel Dates
The updated rate creates an administrative responsibility for claims administrators reviewing mileage requests.
Because the rate depends on when the travel occurred, accurate documentation of the transportation date is important.
A reimbursement request may involve multiple trips occurring across different reimbursement periods. Claims administrators must therefore distinguish between travel occurring before July 1 and travel occurring on or after July 1.
The current workers compensation mileage rate should be applied to qualifying travel beginning July 1, while earlier travel remains subject to the rate applicable at the time it occurred.
The 2026 Rate Replaces the Earlier Rate
At the beginning of 2026, California’s mileage reimbursement rate was 72.5 cents per mile.
DWC announced that rate on January 5, 2026, with the increase taking effect January 1. The agency subsequently announced the July increase to 76 cents per mile.
The sequence demonstrates that reimbursement rates can change during the year.
For injured workers and claims administrators, this means relying on a mileage form or rate schedule from an earlier period may result in an incorrect reimbursement calculation.
DWC Provides an Updated Mileage Form
DWC has also updated its medical mileage expense form for travel occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
The agency’s forms page identifies a medical mileage expense form specifically designated for travel on or after July 1, 2026.
Using the appropriate current form can help injured workers document qualifying travel and provide the information necessary for reimbursement processing.
The updated workers compensation mileage rate should therefore be considered together with the applicable DWC form rather than treated as a standalone figure.
Documentation Can Support Reimbursement
Mileage reimbursement generally depends on documenting qualifying travel.
An injured worker should maintain appropriate information concerning medical appointments and transportation when seeking reimbursement. Accurate records can help establish the date and purpose of travel.
This becomes particularly important when a worker has numerous appointments over an extended period.
For workers compensation mileage requests, organized documentation can help reduce confusion over which trips occurred during a particular reimbursement period and which rate should apply.
Parking and Bridge Tolls Are Separate Considerations
Mileage is not necessarily the only transportation expense associated with workers’ compensation medical travel.
DWC’s benefits guidance states that reasonable transportation expenses include mileage, parking, and bridge tolls.
This distinction matters because an injured worker may incur additional transportation expenses while traveling for treatment.
The 76-cent workers compensation mileage rate addresses the mileage component, while other qualifying transportation expenses may be considered separately under applicable workers’ compensation requirements.
Frequent Treatment Can Increase the Financial Impact
The practical importance of the rate increase becomes clearer when an injured worker has recurring medical appointments.
Physical therapy, specialist appointments, diagnostic services, pharmacy visits, and follow-up evaluations can generate repeated transportation needs.
A few cents per mile may seem minor when viewed as an individual trip, but the difference can accumulate across numerous appointments.
The updated workers compensation mileage rate therefore provides a more meaningful benefit for workers who must travel frequently for treatment.
Medical Provider Access Can Affect Travel
Transportation reimbursement also intersects with healthcare access.
An injured worker may have limited options when seeking specialized occupational medicine, rehabilitation, surgery, or medical-legal services.
When available providers are located farther away, transportation becomes an important practical consideration.
The workers compensation mileage reimbursement mechanism can help address some of the expense associated with necessary travel, although the reimbursement rules themselves determine which expenses qualify.
Attorneys and Claims Professionals Should Know the Updated Rate
Workers’ compensation attorneys and claims professionals routinely encounter reimbursement issues while managing claims.
Understanding the current mileage rate can help professionals identify whether reimbursement requests have been calculated using the appropriate amount.
The July 2026 change should also be considered when reviewing historical reimbursement requests containing travel before and after the effective date.
The updated workers compensation mileage rate is therefore relevant to claim administration, benefit counseling, and dispute resolution.
The Rate Applies Regardless of Injury Date
One of the clearest points in DWC’s July announcement is that the 76-cent rate applies regardless of the date of injury.
This prevents confusion for workers whose claims began before the new rate took effect.
For example, a worker injured in 2025 may still receive the 76-cent rate for qualifying travel occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
The relevant distinction is the timing of the travel, not simply the date on which the workplace injury occurred.
Why Rate Monitoring Remains Important
California’s mileage reimbursement history demonstrates that rates can change over time.
The DWC rate was 70 cents per mile beginning January 1, 2025, increased to 72.5 cents on January 1, 2026, and then increased again to 76 cents for travel beginning July 1, 2026.
This progression illustrates why workers and claims professionals should use current DWC information when calculating reimbursement.
An outdated rate can produce an inaccurate request or payment.
What Injured Workers Should Know
Injured workers attending medical appointments for a work-related injury should be aware that California has established a new mileage rate for qualifying travel beginning July 1, 2026.
The current rate is 76 cents per mile.
Workers should retain relevant transportation information and use the current DWC mileage form applicable to travel occurring on or after July 1. DWC provides the updated form through its official website.
The workers compensation mileage change is practical rather than merely technical because transportation costs can accumulate during lengthy treatment.
Broader Implications for California Workers’ Compensation
The mileage adjustment illustrates how California workers’ compensation benefits extend beyond direct medical payments.
Treatment access can involve transportation, scheduling, medical documentation, and other practical considerations.
For injured workers, reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses can form part of the broader support available while receiving treatment.
The updated workers compensation mileage rate therefore represents a small but relevant adjustment within the larger California workers’ compensation system.
Conclusion and Industry Outlook
California’s July 2026 mileage adjustment provides an important update for injured workers and professionals administering workers’ compensation claims.
The Division of Workers’ Compensation increased the rate for medical and medical-legal travel to 76 cents per mile, effective for travel occurring on or after July 1, 2026. The new rate applies regardless of the date on which the underlying injury occurred.
The updated workers compensation mileage rate applies to qualifying travel associated with medical treatment and medical-legal services. DWC’s current benefits information also identifies mileage, parking, and bridge tolls among reasonable transportation expenses that may be reimbursable when an injured worker travels for treatment.
For injured workers, accurate documentation and use of the current DWC mileage form can help support reimbursement requests. For claims administrators, attorneys, and other professionals, knowing the applicable rate and effective date can help prevent calculation errors.
As California continues administering its workers’ compensation system, transportation reimbursement remains an important practical issue for ensuring that injured workers can reach necessary medical services.
For the official announcement and current reimbursement information, visit the California Division of Workers’ Compensation mileage reimbursement update. DWC also provides the current medical mileage expense form for travel occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
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FAQs: About Workers Compensation Mileage
What is the current California workers compensation mileage rate?
The current rate is 76 cents per mile for qualifying medical and medical-legal travel occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
Does the new mileage rate depend on the injury date?
No. DWC states that the 76-cent rate applies to qualifying travel on or after July 1, 2026, regardless of the date of injury.
What travel can qualify for mileage reimbursement?
DWC identifies reasonable travel to doctors, hospitals, therapy, and pharmacies as potentially reimbursable, with medical and medical-legal travel specifically covered by the mileage-rate announcement.
Where can injured workers find the updated mileage form?
DWC provides a medical mileage expense form specifically designated for travel occurring on or after July 1, 2026.