How Do I/is There A Procedure?

[tanker31]

I'm 100% P&T. On 23 Feb. 09 I had a heart attack. Could not make it to the VA hospital in Houston. Went to local hospital emergency room where I was diagnosed as HAVING a heart attack. I was admitted to ICU. My wife and I advised the Hospital reps. that I was a 100% disabled vet and my health care was through the VA in Houston. No problem, they did their job, contacted and advised the VA of my location and medical condition. Va advised no bed at this time. No beds were available for me for approx. 6 days. By then a civilian Cardiologist had performed all tests, scheduled a heart catheterization, and I had grown confident in him and his ability. Long story short, stent was placed in artery ( 99% blockage ), I'm home now. This was all done at the civilian hospital. I have Medicare, so payment was not an issue once I declined the VA bed ( after waiting 6 days ).

At issue here is not payment for the hospital stay and procedure(s), I would like to know if I can or if there is a procedure for the VA to work with my Civilian doctor in terms of rehab. and prescription medication my civilian Cardiologist is prescribing for me? I have been advised that I may be on some of these medications for life. Can I get this medicine and rehab. from the VA under my 100% P&T status?

Thanks,

Tanker31

[Pete53]

Medicare offers rehab also. I think that it is free as long as it falls within their guidelines.

[fanaticbooks]

I'm 100% P&T. On 23 Feb. 09 I had a heart attack. Could not make it to the VA hospital in Houston. Went to local hospital emergency room where I was diagnosed as HAVING a heart attack. I was admitted to ICU. My wife and I advised the Hospital reps. that I was a 100% disabled vet and my health care was through the VA in Houston. No problem, they did their job, contacted and advised the VA of my location and medical condition. Va advised no bed at this time. No beds were available for me for approx. 6 days. By then a civilian Cardiologist had performed all tests, scheduled a heart catheterization, and I had grown confident in him and his ability. Long story short, stent was placed in artery ( 99% blockage ), I'm home now. This was all done at the civilian hospital. I have Medicare, so payment was not an issue once I declined the VA bed ( after waiting 6 days ).

At issue here is not payment for the hospital stay and procedure(s), I would like to know if I can or if there is a procedure for the VA to work with my Civilian doctor in terms of rehab. and prescription medication my civilian Cardiologist is prescribing for me? I have been advised that I may be on some of these medications for life. Can I get this medicine and rehab. from the VA under my 100% P&T status?

Thanks,

Tanker31

Tanker,

My hubby is diabetic. He had been going to a private specialist for years before being put into the VA system. When he got his primary care doctor at the VA, he told him he was keeping his private dr. The VA doctor said no problem, just have him fax any prescriptions to him and he would turn around and prescribe to the VA for the pills. He is fine with having hubby's private dr overseeing this disease with him handling the general wellness stuff like kidney stones or colonoscopy or whatever.

We do get one prescription privately that we have to pay a portion for since private dr. needed it to be nongeneric. Our private insurance and Medicare pick up the tab for the private dr.

I don't think you should have a problem unless pride and egos get in the way. You are entitled to seek other help. Discuss with your VA primary care dr and explain that you need them to help but that you will be keeping this dr as your main cardiologist.

Just try to make sure that the primary gets a copy of medical evaluations, reports, whatever so he stays in the loop.

One last thing, the primary care dr also defers to the private dr. regarding prescriptions. He would get a list of prescriptions from the private dr. and ask if a specific generic would be possible. He didn't quibble when the private dr. stated what needed to be non generic. But we also had to go outside the VA for it because the VA is kind of sticky about special nongeneric medication. It takes an act of Congress practically to get the specialty approved. Keep that in mind on your prescriptions.

fanaticbooks

Edited March 16, 2009 by fanaticbooks

[carlie]

tanker31,

I did not have a heart attack - but was in CHF.

Once the cardiac doc got my EF a bit better with medication,

i went through about 8 months of cardiac re-hab at Bay Pines, Fl. VAMC.

They had a fairly good program - excepy for the nurse that ran the program,

her name was Susan Hess and she was just a "B" to the veterans.

She was the type that used the power of her position over veterans.

jmho,

carlie