Back in April, Trump signed into law the Veterans Choice legislation. This allows Vets to go to local hospitals or clinics instead of the VA Hospitals when they need what isn't available expediently or is over 40 miles to the VA Hospital. A wonderful thing. However, there is a snag. The VA is not doing this because the program is on hold. Congress has not funded this program. I myself have been waiting for a few test to be run in Roseburg, 90 miles away. No bitch about that, but the Queue is long and I have no idea when I can go. So I asked the VA today, how about you send me to a local place. Can't the program is on hold for funding. I will write, call if I can, my Rep tomorrow. But My rep is not so swift and he's on vacation I think. Anyone have a rep that can get shit done?
What tests are you putting off? That sucks that you can't get if free locally but shit man, this is your health we're talking about. Either drive 40 miles or just pay cash and get the tests done. You can write and bitch later.
As I understand it, you can not just walk into a Hospital and order tests. Hell man I can't even remember some of the tests the doctors said or say then if I could remember. It ain't the 90 miles that is the hang up, it is the VA hospital is overloaded. EKG is the only one I can remember.
Oh, just an EKG? That's only your heart, nothing important. Call your doctor's nurse, she can pull up your chart and see what tests the doctor ordered. Tell her the name of the clinic or hospital you are going to and she can send them the doctor's test order. As far as the VA hospital being overloaded you are correct, it just seems foolish that you're not going to take care of your health until the government takes care of the VA. You'll be dead before that happens.
what he said. his nurse can do the referral cause women rule the world, you should understand this by now at your age.
Gee Sly, I don't think you get it. I no longer have good anywhere insurance. I use the VA. When I lost my insurance, I also lost the private doctor in Bandon. He closed up shop and said fuck it! The aren't any doctors that will take on new Medicare Patients. It took three days to get the fucking phone call telling me to suck it up and wait. I suppose you mean just go to an er and start over, I may if I think the day has come. But shit, millions of guys are in this swamp.
https://www.va.gov/health/patientadvocate/ try to find out who this is at your va hospital and contact them to find out about options available to you through the Veterans Choice act. an email is more likely answered than a phone call. at least more likely a prompt response.
Thanks, I know where their office is. I am trying to get you guys to tell your representatives in Congress, that they need to do there part here. The act became law 4/17/17 and Congress and dropped the ball. The good news went out, the follow thru fell on it's ass, the Representatives went on vacation. I will do my tomorrow, please do yours too. Even my VA Doctor ask for help with this.
Yes, we know you choose not to have any insurance because it's not as good as you once had. No, I'm not telling you to go to the ER. You said the doctor has ordered tests. I said to put the bitching and letter writing campaign on hold and go get the tests done. I didn't say go to the ER and have them order you the same tests that your doctor has already ordered. Stop with the BS and get the tests done.
Elderly Vets Could Face Benefits Cut Under Trump Budget http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/05/24/elderly-vets-face-benefits-cut-trump-budget.html
1 hour ago. Senate OKs bills to address VA budget crisis, claims backlog WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a pair of bills Tuesday taking aim at urgent problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, clearing a $3.9 billion emergency spending package to fix a looming budget crisis and adopting new measures to pare down a rapidly growing backlog of veterans’ disability claims. Both bills passed by unanimous vote. The spending package provides $2.1 billion to continue funding the Veterans Choice Program, which allows veterans to receive private medical care at government expense. VA Secretary David Shulkin had warned that without congressional action the program would run out of money by mid-August, disrupting medical care for thousands of veterans. Another $1.8 billion would go to core VA health programs, including 28 leases for new VA medical facilities. The spending package now goes to Trump for his signature. http://wtop.com/business-finance/2017/08/senate-oks-3-9b-to-address-vas-looming-budget-crisis/
Again, call or just go to your doctor's office and ask the nurse what tests the doctor ordered and where you can get them done, tell her you'd rather just pay for it out of your own pocket instead of waiting or driving far. Shit Marz, if you can build your own god damn boat you can figure this out.
Sly, I ask the doctor today to order the test at one of the local hospitals. They will not do it because the program has been put on hold. If I had a sack full of 50 dollar gold pieces I couldn't get then to go against the directive. I don't know, I can only speculate that the hospital will send them the bill, they all know the drill. So they make hard rules. I also know that I can walk into an er, tell them the trouble and what I need and get it done, cal it an emergency, and tell them to send the bill to the VA. I can do that one. But damn it, this sort of shit needs to be fixed.
