Seattle Vamc Refuses Care To 80% Vet For Sc Care

[SeattleShay]

I was at the Seattle VAMC ER today with my friemd who is 80 % and needed to ne seen for a bad miagraine.

The intake clerk asked if she had civilian insurance also, because they would need that card also. My friend told the clerk that she wanted to check with her "lawyer" (that being me..tongue in cheek) and told her until they could show the regulation..CFR 38.4 that said that veterns 50% and over were no longer wholly covered by the VA, then the VA didn't need her card, they simply WANTED it...big damn difference. I was informed that I knew not of what I spoke and if I did not vacate the area I would be escorted out and my friend could not be treated.

So...........I whipped out my trusted cell phone that I have Rep Jay Insley's number on and was put straight thru when I sarted to explain our problem. Within 10 minutes my friend was seen and Insley's office has been promised that it would not hear about this again.

What hacks me off, is while I was in the restroom this jerk from registration tryied to strong arm her.

I'm sure it works with many,

[SeattleShay]

Larry

I know, I am a RN and have seen the "clean ups" before the commission arrives. Talk about quake in their boots...

I wouldn't mind the VA using the insurance info for billing if:

1. They change the CFR and made it legal (there's a biggie)

2. If it made a difference in the care (what a concept)

But they are lying thru their proverbial and literal teeth. I guess that this should come as no big shock, eh?

[LarryJ]

Larry

I know, I am a RN and have seen the "clean ups" before the commission arrives. Talk about quake in their boots...

I wouldn't mind the VA using the insurance info for billing if:

1. They change the CFR and made it legal (there's a biggie)

2. If it made a difference in the care (what a concept)

But they are lying thru their proverbial and literal teeth. I guess that this should come as no big shock, eh?

Well, actually, and y'all correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that it is "legal" for the VA to recoup from private insurers. Now, that doesn't mean that if you have or don't have private insurance, that it should make any difference in your treatment or lack thereof. Especially with a rating above, isn't it like 30% or some such?

Of course, with that in mind, trying to be a "good guy" I called the cost recovery office (this is while I still had private insurance through my wife's work....she works, BTW, as a PACU nurse for HCA) and actually TRIED to give them the insurance info so's that they COULD recover some of the cost of providing me with care........and the guy on the other end of the 'phone acted like he didn't have the foggiest notion of what I was talking about......and this was the cost recovery center, in Atlanta I believe it was, for the whole stinkin VA.

Who ya gonna call?