Va Prescription Benefit

[atlaturne]

I am 100% service connected.I have numerous prescriptions written by my civilian doctors.Some have no generic equivilent.I am going to the VA to try to have them fill these.What might I expect?Will they fill those that don't have generics too?This is my first time to use the VA benefit to which I am entitled.

[carlie]

So far, I was only able to find this, but I feel

sure others will chime in.

carlie

http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/cover...ardBenefits.asp

Medications and Supplies

Prescription medications

Over-the counter medications

Medical and surgical supplies

Generally, they must be prescribed by a VA provider and be available under VA’s national formulary system

Will VA pay for medications written by a non-VA physician?

Generally only veterans with special eligibility, such as veterans receiving Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, or who are approved by a VA health care facility for Fee Basis are eligible to receive medications at VA expense.

[carlie]

I also found this.

http://www.heartoftexas.va.gov/drug_policy.asp

Your VA Drug CoverageVA Drug Policy

The policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs is to provide complete medical care for all veteran patients. Patients may only be prescribed drugs for conditions or problems that are treated and followed by a VA doctor. Medications may have side effects or may interact with other medicines you are taking. For these reasons, the VA doctors need to know all of the drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) that you are taking.

Many medications also require close monitoring. For your safety, it is important to keep all appointments for doctor visits and lab work.

Veteran Responsibilities

Inform your outside doctors of care being provided at the VA.

Provide your VA doctor with the name and address of all outside doctors that you are seeing.

Obtain all necessary records and documentation from outside doctors.

Inform your VA doctors of all medications and supplements you take.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can the VA doctor just rewrite my prescriptions from my private doctor?

A: No. It is not legal or safe for a doctor to rewrite a prescription without review of your records and examining you for the problem. The doctor who writes a prescription is responsible for the drug, its side effects, and the medical problem being treated.

Q: What if I am admitted to an outside hospital and my medications are changed?

A: VA doctors cannot safely prescribe the new medications for you until they have seen the medical reports. You must get a copy of these reports from the outside hospital when you are discharged and consult with your VA doctor.

Q: Will the VA have all my medications?

A: The VA has a complete drug formulary for all your medication needs. VA doctors may replace some of your drugs with medications that work the same way and are on the VA National Formulary.

[fanaticbooks]

My hubby has a private diabetic doctor. Whenever there is a medication to be changed or renewed, that private doctor sends a copy over to his Primary Care Provider at the VA. Thus the PCP can review the prescription(s). The PCP then writes a prescription and sends it to the VA pharmacy. They work well in conjunction with each other. The PCP handles most items and listens closely to the diabetic specialist.

If you have prescriptions that the VA does not want to fill, there are avenues you can take with the help of your PCP to try to get authorization for them. We haven't used these avenues at this time so don't want to try to describe the process. I just know there is a process.

You can't just take the private doctor's prescriptions to the pharmacy to be filled. It has to go through the PCP or some other VA doctor.

[john999]

I find the main factor with VA pharmacy is cost. They always are looking for a cheap alternative to whatever your private doctor may prescribe. They would not prescribe celebrex for me because of cost, but would give me morphine because it is cheap. Does that make sense? It does if you are 100% cost driven and care only about the bottom line.

[LarryJ]

I find the main factor with VA pharmacy is cost. They always are looking for a cheap alternative to whatever your private doctor may prescribe. They would not prescribe celebrex for me because of cost, but would give me morphine because it is cheap. Does that make sense? It does if you are 100% cost driven and care only about the bottom line.

Sorta reminds me of the "good-old-days" of flying on a helicopter that was built by the lowest bidder! (or taking medications that are prescribed by and manufactured by the least expensive way).

:D

Fortunately I am married to a VERY HIGHLY qualified RN who keeps a REALLY close eye on what the VA is doing for me, medically! I will say this, without her I would have been dead 15 years ago...........I trust her TOTALLY!