ptsd Fee-based Psych Care

[purple]

So....considering everything that has been happening as of late I called the Pt Advocate of the Mental Health Clinic this morning and asked about the procedure for obtaining fee-based care. She told me I have to submit a letter to their Chief and in-turn it will go to the facility Chief to be decided.

She then told me that it will likely be disapproved due to budget issues. That was the wrong thing to tell me; or maybe she was just giving me ammunition on purpose. She said if there wasn't anyone at the Dayton VA who could provide care for me, I would be sent to another VA facility....Cincinatti....over an hour away. Uh no. Been there, done that; failed horribly. Again, glad she gave me that ammunition up front. I've known this lady for many years...we get along well.

So I asked her about this new MST PTSD coordinator. I told her that my tdoc told me that this person won't be seeing pts....she was shocked. She said why hire someone who won't see pts? But she can't confirm whether that is true or not as the pdoc who hired her is gone until the beginning of March. I made a bold suggestion (I can be such a bitch)...I said, "Why not ask the person who was hired?" :D But she said she is still in the "credentialing" process which could take up to a month...no one has met this person. Wow. Does this person even exist???

So now I will start on my letter.

[Wings]

So....considering everything that has been happening as of late I called the Pt Advocate of the Mental Health Clinic this morning and asked about the procedure for obtaining fee-based care. She told me I have to submit a letter to their Chief and in-turn it will go to the facility Chief to be decided.

She then told me that it will likely be disapproved due to budget issues. That was the wrong thing to tell me; or maybe she was just giving me ammunition on purpose. She said if there wasn't anyone at the Dayton VA who could provide care for me, I would be sent to another VA facility....Cincinatti....over an hour away. Uh no. Been there, done that; failed horribly. Again, glad she gave me that ammunition up front. I've known this lady for many years...we get along well.

So I asked her about this new MST PTSD coordinator. I told her that my tdoc told me that this person won't be seeing pts....she was shocked. She said why hire someone who won't see pts? But she can't confirm whether that is true or not as the pdoc who hired her is gone until the beginning of March. I made a bold suggestion (I can be such a bitch)...I said, "Why not ask the person who was hired?" :D But she said she is still in the "credentialing" process which could take up to a month...no one has met this person. Wow. Does this person even exist???

So now I will start on my letter.

Purple,

Here's the Fee Base Directive (135 pages)

http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPub....asp?pub_ID=787

Also, I know there's a 38 USC or 38 CFR, statute, specifically written for Women Veterans. Let me find that (under Chapter 17, Medical)

~Wings