Va Rx

[cooter]

I had my other insurance fill VA medications when a co-pay was issued for non service connection medication. I asked the doctor to write the script, took it to my on base pharmacy and got it for free. Now that I'm 50% they can't tack on co-payments-they tried twice in the last few months- after letting them know they to verify my current disability, they gave in.

The Doctor that wrote your perscriptions from the VA or private? And are you still in the military?

[LarryJ]

I had my other insurance fill VA medications when a co-pay was issued for non service connection medication. I asked the doctor to write the script, took it to my on base pharmacy and got it for free. Now that I'm 50% they can't tack on co-payments-they tried twice in the last few months- after letting them know they to verify my current disability, they gave in.

You also realize that any co-pays that you have paid since the earliest effective date of your 50%, they owe you back. BUT, like most things "VA", you gotta ask them and fill out the proper form(s). I got back almost a thousand dollars.

[COOL BREEZE]

I had my other insurance fill VA medications when a co-pay was issued for non service connection medication. I asked the doctor to write the script, took it to my on base pharmacy and got it for free. Now that I'm 50% they can't tack on co-payments-they tried twice in the last few months- after letting them know they to verify my current disability, they gave in.

No, I am retired from the Navy. I have tricare prime which is for military retirees. I live close to Davis Monthan AFB which has a medical clinic(used to be a hospital, but was converted into a big clinic) You can fill a medication their from outside-civilian, VA and they will it for free. They use a pharmacy at the BX for those refills-no charge. But-this is only for military retirees-

[cooter]

No, I am retired from the Navy. I have tricare prime which is for military retirees. I live close to Davis Monthan AFB which has a medical clinic(used to be a hospital, but was converted into a big clinic) You can fill a medication their from outside-civilian, VA and they will it for free. They use a pharmacy at the BX for those refills-no charge. But-this is only for military retirees-

Thank's CB!

ounds like a great deal for your situation, as I am a Federal disabled retiree,that unfortunetly won't help me. Plus, I'm more concern getting a civ. dr's perscription filled by the VA, since the cost just for one of my meds (oxycontin) is 250.00 bucks a month out of pocket after insurance pays thier part. The oxycontin is for both my SC and NSC injuries. Untill I get my NSC granted which is caused by the SC injury I guess I'll have to soak up the differances. Other folks here suggested talking to a VA dr. to perscribe them for me. I guess I'll have to go that route.

[Chuck75]

Yes, sort of ----

The Veteran's drug act outlines the process.

Unfortunately, it is less effective than it should be. The VA originally supposedly was to just review the outside doctor's prescription,

and issue if the prescription was appropriate, and on the VA's list. The first thing that happened was that the VA bean counters got involved,

and the VA reviewing doctors (I assume by direction) started substituting less expensive drugs, where possible, even when the substitute was considered less effective than

the original.

Next, the VA saw this as an opportunity to enroll veteran's in the VA system, thus increasing the body count to get the number up. This allowed them to claim that there was a cost reduction (per veteran) in supplying veteran's services. (Bonus time) The original drug act law did not require that a veteran be "enrolled" in VA health care.

A common mistake on the part of veterans was not to check with the originating doctor, or get the VA doctor to check with the prescribing doctor (usually a specialist), to insure that a substitute was desirable and appropriate. (This is the key to getting the exact drug needed when it's available, or a substitute that is appropriate.)

A couple of years ago I got into a small battle over a drug that was on the VA list, yet (unstated, but due to cost and convenience) the VAMC in my area was only allowing to be prescribed for VA inpatients and VA resident veterans. Turned out that there was a process to obtain the drug, but the VA clinic doctors did not know what it was, and the process was a time waster from the doctor's viewpoint, when they finally were told how to go about using it to get the drug for an individual veteran.

A bit later, the VA was allowed to revert to it's long standing practice of providing only drugs after a delay (up to 30 days) and, by default, the drugs used to treat "chronic" conditions.

Then to add icing to the VA cake, "Co-Pay" was increased to a level that is more or less twice that of the total cost for drugs on the Wal-Mart and other pharmacy lists.

Even the VA clinics will issue a prescription for use with a local pharmacy when the need is immediate. At one point, after the drug act was passed, the VAMC's would usually, (if available on the shelf, and needed)

overnight ship the drug to a veteran. I think that the contract to do this was allowed to expire as a cost savings.

Actually, in theory, the VA is not charging for the drugs, it is charging a "medical service", or "dispensing fee" to cover the operating costs of providing the drug.

Having a fee higher than the Wal Mart four dollar price is just an illustration of either the high VA cost of running a pharmacy, or the VA's desire to make money. (Or both)

Is there any loopholes in the VA system to get RX's filled that are written by our private MD's?

[Chuck75]

"fill out the proper form(s)"

What forms are needed. So far, my VAMC claims they don't exist, etc.

The only form admitted to is a waiver form for low income.

You also realize that any co-pays that you have paid since the earliest effective date of your 50%, they owe you back. BUT, like most things "VA", you gotta ask them and fill out the proper form(s). I got back almost a thousand dollars.