It's beyond insane, right?
I haven't read the published Fed Reg., but I'm going to try to do that tonight. I have lost my links to the "final rules" so I'll have to dig them up somehow. One of the Hadit folks prolly posted it already.
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014
There's supposed to be two methods for establishing "eligibility":
1. Wait time more than 30 days with the VA
2. Live further than 40 miles (as the crow flies)
"Eligible veterans may elect to receive, at VA expense, care from a non-VA provider of their choice that is eligible and accessible to them. These providers generally will either be able to provide care sooner than VA could or are located closer to the eligible veteran's residence than a VA medical facility." and so on and so forth
I have repeadely asked Vets Choice people (whom seldom if ever answer the phone), how I would establish the fact that I live more than 90 miles from the nearest TREATMENT facility (no, the VA Clinics do not treat) --and they told me to CALL THE VA. Yeah, OK, sure, could you give me a phone #, email addy, what's the name of the Office, etc. --and they DO NOT KNOW. Lovely, just great. SO here I am at Hadit hehehe
Yesterday, Veterans Choice folks told me that vets can just CALL OUR PRIMARY DOCS, yeah that's right (she says), on the phone, and the VA doc could upload the consult without having to be seen! Haha, do you think that's gonna fly? I'll try it, yes I will because the last time I saw a VA Doctor, they didn'tEXAMINE me anyway, just sit there and type things into the software program. I had to TELL THEM TO PUT THEIR HAND ON MY FACE and examine the injury!! I told them politley that I deserve to be EXAMINED not simply talked to like a 5 y/o child. AND WHAT IF WE ARE INJURED by the Vets Chice Doctor, is there a legal remedy like the 1151 Claim, and I don't see where this new law mentins any other legal remedy for wrongdoings or disagreemnt??? WTH
Oh, I'm just getting started. I've stuffed their abuse long enough ... Wings
P.S. Laws and regs are they only thing we are allowed to shove down their throats!
Some here https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/11/05/2014-26316/expanded-access-to-non-va-care-through-the-veterans-choice-program
On August 7, 2014, the President signed into law the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (“the Act,” Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754). Further technical revisions to the Act were made on September 26, 2014, when the President signed into law the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-175, 128 Stat. 1901, 1906). Section 101 of the Act creates the Veterans Choice Program (“the Program”). Section 101 requires the Secretary to furnish hospital care and medical services to certain eligible veterans through agreements with identified eligible entities or providers. Sec. 101(a)(1)(A), Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754. Delivery of such care through non-VA health care providers will be at the election of eligible veterans. This interim final rulemaking primarily restates these mandates and prescriptions in a regulatory framework, and provides guidance where Congress' instructions were not clearly executable on the face of the law. Congress directed VA to publish interim final regulations concerning this program within 90 days of enactment. Sec. 101(n), Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754. This rulemaking complies with that mandate.Show citation box