Health Care Rationing At The Va

[john999]

How many here believe the VA rations care? I believe they do based simply on cost.

[Pete53]

Health care at VA is rationed by cost and even more important access. Its hard to juggle cause VA health care is treatment by emergency most of the time.

[Vync]

Absolutely. And then they boast about providing the best and/or most advanced care anywhere.

Here are a couple of examples:

Example

They keep certain medications off of their formulary and only offer cheap and less effective alternatives. (celebrex or bextra)

Example

Limiting the number of medication pills available per month (levitra).

Example

They offer older surgery options instead of more effective options like laparoscopic robot surgery (DaVinci robot).

Example

Providing eyeglasses, but not offering laser eye-correction surgery. (actually, I don't think I would want the VA doing that to me anyway)

Example

PCP doctor refers Veteran to another clinic. The other clinic then cancels the appointment and refers Veteran back to PCP doctor.

[john999]

Vync

I got signed up for a "pain class" by the pain clinic which is Charlie Team. I got sent to Charlie by my PCP which is Alpha Team. Now to change appointment with Pain Class I have to call Delta Team. I told them to forget it. I got social worker to provide a PT guy and they wanted to charge my medicare. I get 12 visits from the PT guy and that's it. The pain clinic has been telling me for years I need PT, so 12 visits will fix me I guess. I need 1200 visits. The PT guy told me to buy a stationary bike. Should not the VA provide that? I am 100% and HB. What do they want from me? What do I need them for with all this great advice on how to spend my own money. The VA medical system is just a shadow and a sham. I could get better care at the local charity clinic except I make too much for them to treat me.

[Wings]

x

x

x

1. cheap medications

2. out-dated surgical techniques

3. not ordering routine blood tests

4. not ordering MRI's

5. primary care appt's lasting 10-15 minutes

6, passing the veteran around like a football

[Chu Lai69]

How many here believe the VA rations care? I believe they do based simply on cost.

I do not!! I get as good as or better care at times then I did when I had private insurance. So far so good. I have been going to the St. Louis VAMAC for going on 3 years now and have been happy with the care provided, emergency and non emergency. Works for me!! JMHO