Tenacity is key

[Holllie Greene]

Hi All,

Happy February 2016.

After much jumping thru hoops, and an exam by a VA ophthalmologist at a clinic  I was approved for cataract removal surgery by a local ophthalmologist.  There seemed to be confusion at the local doctor's office but I provided them with copies of the approval letter and the choice card.  If I have to be the "test subject" for this process, so be it.

Tenacity, perseverance, and calling the several numbers on the documents and choice card is key.  Sure it ate up my morning and bled into early afternoon but better safe than stuck with a bill I am not responsible for.

Also, don't forget about the "surgery center" when dealing with this...that is covered as well.

Have a good day.

HG

[Berta]

Hollie I replied to a different post you made this AM and still had something on my mind about it....

so I just got off a ladder (am painting my house interior) , went to google and Bingo I found some info I was wondering about:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22025330

I googled Cataracts and MS and found many other links too that I don't have time to read, yet that do show the potential nexus medically between MS and cataracts.

Did the VSO who helped you recently mention that potential too?

[Holllie Greene]

Hi again Berta,

Please be careful on that ladder.  No one needs any falls.

The VSO did not mention that but he was swamped that day (I was his 12th Veteran) so we will see how this thing goes.

He was insistent I was receiving SMC K and when I told him I was not he plugged in my SSN and confirmed to himself that I was not getting it.  He said he would work on it.

We will see.

Is it true that when you are rated 100% P&T you receive SMC K?

Be careful painting and thank you for replying to my posts and posting the NIH link.

HG

[Berta]

"Is it true that when you are rated 100% P&T you receive SMC K? "

Nothing is automatic Hollie, it needs to be claimed...if that is what you mean.

BTW, I am glad you know what to expect as you did have cataract surgery already...and  I need to clarify what I said... The surgeon said I would be awake for the surgeries , but they knocked me out cold for the first eye and I when I woke up, to bright overhead lights ,in an operating room, no surgeon in sight, then some decades- old de javu set in ,and I knew I had missed the actual surgical stuff

and so I asked the nurses if I had a boy or a girl.   He He

The second time I told the anesthesiologist and he immediately changed the knock out stuff and it was SO Cool to see what they were doing and it was just like all of the procedures I had googled on line.

I have friend who is so apprehensive of two pending cataracts operations.

She already has 3 heart stents and a stent in her neck...so the cataract stuff should be easy for her to go through.

I have CHAMPVA and also Medicare and have not gotten any bill at all for the October surgery or the other pre and post op stuff.

 

 

 

[Holllie Greene]

Hi Berta,

Seems I have some claiming to do in regard to the SMC K.

That is so funny what you asked: "is it a boy or girl"  :))))))

My left eye has a Crystalens which my husband insisted upon.  They are not cheap; I would just like to have a lens that is clear so I can see clearly.  I have been getting headaches because of the cloudiness in my right eye.

This is through the Veterans Choice and I am the ophthalmologist's "guinea pig" or Veterans Choice.  However, I seriously doubt Veterans Choice will pay for a Crystalens but that is okay.

Now I am going to find out how to post a pic of myself like you and others have done.

Have a good day Berta.

HG

[Chuck75]

Recently, my wife of over 40 years had to have cataract surgery on both eyes. She opted for laser surgery.

When all was said and done, both eyes were corrected to ~ 20/20, better than she has seen since a teenager.

[Holllie Greene]

Hi Chuck75,

That is good news that your wife now has 20/20 vision!!!

HG