Mustanggt

After spending hours on the phone getting nowhere, maybe this forum can help me. My husband suffered a heart attack last week Monday, was taken to the ER at our local non VA hospital. Admission is aware that he is a veteran. I also contacted VA myself to inform them about this heart attack. Since then he has received 2 stent, has been moved out of ICU and is on the road to recovery. The cardiologist wants to implant an ICD before he leaves the hospital as a necessary precaution. Apparently the 1 hour drive to Tampa is too much of a risk. My husband is a Desert Storm Veteran in Group 5 due to his low income. Is this procedure covered by VA? He has no insurance from employment. The night nurse - also a veteran - said that since this procedure is part of the emergency, VA will pick up the cost. Hopefully someone can give me an answer. We have tried calling numerous phone numbers in Tampa and Bradenton. No luck. Thank you.