Policy
If a worker must be escorted to health care or WSIB-arranged appointments, the WSIB pays the escort a standard fee and any approved travel and related expenses.
Guidelines
The WSIB pays for
- professional qualified escorts (e.g., a registered nurse) if the worker needs assistance to travel to appointments because of serious clinical problems, or
- non-professional escorts, if the worker must be accompanied for legal or basic clinical reasons. A non-professional escort can be a parent, friend, or spouse.
In some cases, the WSIB may pay for both professional and non-professional escorts. For example, a worker who is a minor may need a professional escort for legal reasons.
Payment rate
The daily rate for professional escorts is set by each local nursing registry.
The daily rate for non-professional escorts is set by the WSIB, and is based on the actual time and work involved, not on the hours lost from the escort's regular job. For the current rates for professional and non-professional escorts, see 18-01-05, Table of Rates.
If appropriate, the WSIB pays for an escort's transportation, meal, and accommodation expenses. (See 17-01-09, Travel and Related Expenses.)
Application date
This policy applies to all expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2001, for all accidents.
Document History
This document replaces 17-01-08 dated April 6, 2001.
This document was previously published as:
06-01-04 dated June 1989.
References
Legislative Authority
Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended
Section 32
Workers' Compensation Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended
Section 50
Minute
Administrative
#12, June 18, 2004, Page 373