the Legislature intended for the more general language of § 25-5-77(a) to cover costs related to transportation as well.
The parties also agree that the van is necessary "for restoring [Bishop's] mobility `to the highest possible level' of independent functioning." It is important to note that the parties further stipulated that "[o]ther than as stated, there are no other medical purposes for the van." If we held that the workers' compensation statute required reimbursement of a claimant's expenses where the sole purpose of those expenses was to enhance the claimant's independent functioning, we believe we would be dangerously disturbing the balance of interests that the Legislature built into the workers' compensation system.
Our workers' compensation system was designed to provide limited, but guaranteed, benefits to employees injured on the job. In addition to those benefits, employers are required to pay for medical and rehabilitative treatment. However, we hold that those benefits do not include the purchase price of a motor vehicle. Put simply, a motor vehicle is not a device that, in and of itself, can serve to improve a disabled claimant's condition. Its only use is to improve the claimant's independent functioning. While *617 human concern would cause one to wish that a disabled person would reach the maximum possible level of independent functioning, we believe that allowing reimbursement for such costs as are claimed in this case would stretch the workers' compensation statute beyond its intended meaning. Consequently, we hold that a motor vehicle is not within the term "other apparatus" as that term is used in § 25-5-77(a), Ala.Code 1975. Because we make that determination, we need not consider whether a motor vehicle would be "reasonably necessary" in this case if it were such an apparatus.
The judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
HOOPER, C.J., and SHORES, HOUSTON, COOK, SEE, and LYONS, JJ., concur.
NOTES
[1]  Dr. Kezar is an assistant