faofficer

The Patient Represenative is correct about consults if you are referring to travel pay for medical visits outside the VA. Have you spoken to the Doctor's Manager? If I have an issue with a nurse I talk to the Nurse Manager, a clerk i talk to the administrator. Perhaps they can help resolve your issue better than the patient advocate or representative.

The 30 days is a standard the clerks attempt to maintain. However, some clinics are so understaffed that the providers are booked out beyond that time line. I understand my facility ranging from 30-45 days because there is 30k patients, but the facility has not been upgraded from a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) to a Health Care Center (HCC) or VAMC. They have not been approved to hire additional personel either. Of course, I cannot say that is the case at all facilities and would not be as understanding at a VAMC.

The integrated system is not setup in that manner, but it would greatly improve things for the patients and the staff if it were. There is a Master Patient Index that VISN's can obtain information. However, they cannot see your information until you register. The registration (eligibility) staff can access the MPI using the Register Once option, but they cannot do that without your full name, ssn, and dob. The card, last name and last four won't work until they access the MPI to pull your record. The MPI will not work unless there is sufficient information to identify a record. If they have a scanner, the card may work since that information is stored on the card. You do not have to complete an application, especially if you are not staying in the area the Register Once option will retrieve your remote data. It is the primary facility that is responsible for updating your information. However, if you will be there a period of time it may be helpful to load a temporary address in case prescriptions need mailed.

I know several drawing SSD right now and have a friend that works in appeals for SSA if we need clarification. Are you drawing CRSC or CRDP and are you TDRL or PDRL? Try these sources DFAS 1-800-321-1080 or 1-877-327-4457 They will make the payment so they may be able to provide a straight answer

Hmm they now have me taking 1800mg a day for myalgia and joint pain. I find it interesting that a side effect is back and joint pain when they are the primary reason it is prescribed to me. I also noticed diarhea and anxiety...I have IBS and goreaphobia. I am hoping to get off the drug for the reasons you stated.

I have never heard a DAV shuttle refuse to transport due to a MH issue. A wheelchair condition may prevent a ride if the vehicle is not equipped with a lift.

There is no travel pay when riding the DAV shuttle van. The van driver is a volunteer and thus does not receive pay either. The vans are typically donated by the VFW. At most facilities you would receive a "meal ticket" similar to the one provided to volunteers. It would be redeemed with whatever local restaurant has the contract.

A local address is not required. Were they going to have narcotics mailed that were not in their pharmacy?

The reason is simply the privacy act. VHA facilities cannot view your record until you register in their network. If you provide full legal name, birth day, full ssn, place of birth, sc rating, mother's maiden name, and city of birth the registration staff can begin to pull your data. Once you do they can retrieve your information via remote data. They may ask for additional information because the system slowly pulls your information. This is actually the same at private hospitals where you fill out a registration form the first time you visit. If you go to St. Mary's Hospital in California, you would still have to register at St. Mary's Hospital in another state. If you are not staying their for an extended period you do not have to complete an intake appointment. Just ask to be treated as an unassigned walk-in. Individuals with scheduled appointments will be given preference, but they would work you in. Yes intakes are typically 6-8 weeks out because they are 1hr instead of 30 min blocks.

The letter generator is a helpful feature. I know several individuals that use it for proof of income when obtaining a loan. The payment history is also helpful.

Our VISN doesn't post any records on myhealhevet. Everything is self entered here. The only real benefit to the website is the opportunity to order prescription refills online.

Wow that's much better than the benefit in Indiana. We get a 24,000 tax abatement which knocks off about $300 a year in property taxes.

Wow! They are really trying to set the bar high heh. I have a claim that is now 365 days and have not received the first contact letter. All of the items claimed are either already SC or presumptives that have already been diagnosed by the VHA. It is dissappointing because I know that the majority of the VA administrative staff are SC veterans and new job openings have been posted as to only be filled by veterans or tenured civil service employees. You would think things would improve, but they seem to be getting worse. I hear they have terrible turnover so maybe they just have to keep training new staff. Still....Wow!

Also I am 70% and the last time I went to the VAMC they charged my Insurance(through wife,only had it a year now) for an EKG is this acceptable and what I should expect? Yes, the VA is required by law to bill an active insurance for the treatment of any NSC conditions even if the veteran is 100%. They will not bill you whether they receive a payment from the insurance or not because you are in PG1. If you were PG5-8 and it was not related to an environmental factor or recent combat (5yrs) whatever the insurance paid would be applied towards the veterans copay.

I appreciate your responses. I will assume they will combine them since they are really all caused by the same thing. I can't sleep mainly due to pain and I forget things because I can't sleep.

Okay I am currently rated 40% for both knees (loss of motion, instability) both ankles are being reevaluated but will likely be (10% for loss of motion). These are all due to an incident in Iraq. I have all the diagnosis of fibromyalgia ( long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues, insomnia, headaches, memory loss, depression, PTSD, and irritable bowel syndrome) which I see would be rated at 40%. However, if submitted seperately the severity of each diagnosis would create a higher rating. The VSO had me file for each individual diagnosis. I DO NOT HAVE TBI What should I expect the VBA to do? Will they just rap all of these and my original into fibromyalgia? I greatly appreciate any responses.

Our county VSO just submits the documents to the regional VSO. I go through them to avoid the 3 hr drive.

I would also make certain your claim number or at least some form of identification is on each page. If a page falls loose and they cannot identify which file it belongs in they have to shred it. I prefer to play it safe.

I also spent 10 yrs 11B before i commissioned 13A. Although I did spend 4 years in a combat zone, my depression is due to the injuries....not the combat. Of course you can have depression from other issues. BTW I know a gentleman drawing 100% PTSD from getting beat up in a barfight while on leave.

it is easy to move from one va to another. They can retrieve your information from other facilities after you register. As long as your information is up to date they can pull you info after you provide: full name, bday, ssn, mother's maiden name, whether or not you have a sc condition, and place of birth. People travel back and forth between florida during the winter and indiana in the summer. They have no trouble. If you moved you can go to va.gov and find a facility. just enter your zip code and the closest facilities will populate and their mileage from your zip.

vamc are required by law to submit a bill to insurance companies for all nsc care and prescriptions.Veterans are given dollar for dollar credit towards any applicable copay. for example a pg 7 veteran sees primary care. This would have a $15 copay. They bill the insurance provider the full amount for the appointment lets say $100. The insurance sends the vet an invoice stating they were billed $100, they paid $50 and applied $50 to your deductible and that the vet will owe $50. This is not correct because the $50 the insurance paid clears the $15 the vet would have owed. The vet receives no bill because the insurance covered the $15 copay. The vet also benefits because they are a little closer to meeting their deductible. same scenario for a pg 1-5(with a mt below threshold). no copay due, va bills the insurance $100 for nsc service condition. insurance pays 50 and applies 50 to your deductible (even if they pay 0 you will owe nothing) the veteran still benefits from having it applied toward their deductible. There are people that literally go to the va until they meet their deductible because they will not have a copay there. They then go to their private doctor.

An intake appointment at an outpatient clinic would be around 30-45 days. Intake appointments are hour long and clinics are only open 40 hrs a week. The intake clinics also treat all individuals that do not have an assigned PCP that walk in from another VISN. Specialty care does stay booked out because most of those doctors only work for the VA 2-3 days a week and work at their private office where they make much more income. PCP appointments are on a reminder schedule. You do not have to wait for your reminder letter to schedule an appointment. If you have a concern, call the clerk and if they cannot schedule ask to talk to the nurse. The reminder letters are just set up because the doctor set up your consults to last that long and will need to renew them. You do not have to wait to schedule if you desire to see the doctor. If the clerk or nurse cannot help you...talk to the patient advocate. You can also request a new doctor through the patient advocate.

Contrary to belief, the statements under the photo do not have an impact at the VAMC. The only information stored on the magnetic strip is name, ssn, and birthday. This is used so the clerk can confirm your information in the system when checking in for appointments. For veterans without the card, they will simply ask the information to confirm they are in the correct file. Once they open your file, they can see which priority group you are in and the status of your last copay/ means test. The important thing is that your information has been updated in the VHA system to ensure the appropriate priority group has been established. The card will work at any VAMC, but you will have to register in the new VISN before they can retrieve your information via remote data. There are some states that local businesses will use the term "service connected" to verify a disabled veteran for discounts.