New Choice Program Rules

[Berta]

http://www.disabledveterans.org/2015/08/04/new-veterans-choice-program-rules/

And dont miss Ben Krause's info and the comments from vets on the Data Breach stuff.

[Chuck75]

The choice or other outside VA care programs will only work properly when:

The VA PCP is out of the loop, since the wait time to see a PCP is part of the timely-ness problem.

If Medicare providers and rules are followed, the VA is obligated to pay the Veterans out of pocket and co-pay.

All existing outside care programs are combined, with the rules most favorable to veterans as the standard.

Existing community care levels are one of the criteria to define proper medical care. If the VA cannot or will

not provide care to the same or better level, then outside care authorization should be automatic.

Distance- - - the 40 mile rule is a problem, having to do with time or distance to reach the appropriate care providers.

The only real flexibility at present is outside "emergency care", which the VA has a poor reputation of paying properly.

Interest should be paid to a provider when the VA delays payment beyond 30 days.

A question arises as to how the VA vs. Medicare controls spending, and so forth.

(Neither are shining examples, but one seems to work better than the other.

[Vync]

The comments on that link are priceless.

Well, I guess really crappy big city traffic probably does not qualify me then... There is nothing like a 25 mile drive taking two hours each way.

[Pete53]

I got a card to call my Dallas VAMC about a skin Doc appointment last week. They said earliest was Oct 3 at 8 am so I asked to go outside and they said I could. They gave me another number to call in 10 days. Guess I will follow through and see what happens.

[Notorious Kelly]

I'm getting error that their site is down- wonder if we overloaded em ;)