Report: Vets still face long waits with VA Choice program

[Richard1954]

2 hours ago, Buck52 said:

If I need something seen about as for as my healthcare and the VA is Backlog AND IT IS GOING TO BE OVER 30 DAYS FOR VA TO SEE ME  then this is the reason this Bill was passed  to get medical attention sooner than later. 

IF YOU SEE A PRIVATE Dr & WITH THIS NEW BILL THAT THE PRESIDENT JUST SIGNED  THE VA WILL PAY THE COMPLETE BILL.

Yes but this is nothing new Choice has worked this way for a while now....

[Vync]

2 hours ago, Buck52 said:

If I need something seen about as for as my healthcare and the VA is Backlog AND IT IS GOING TO BE OVER 30 DAYS FOR VA TO SEE ME  then this is the reason this Bill was passed  to get medical attention sooner than later. 

This was supposed to be the case for a couple of years, but the VA found ways to screw over the veteran and prevent them from going to a doc out of the system. I called the VA to setup an appointment. They told me it would be a couple of months before I could get in. I asked for referral to the choice program. Suddenly, they said an appointment time the following week just came open. I went to the appointment, but waited all day. I asked why and they said I was a walk-in.

Last year I tried to use the choice program to get some pain management treatment. It took about 7 months to get the appointment and then it was canceled at the last minute. I ended up going to a private doc for it out of my own pocket, but the VA refused to pay because I did not have their permission first. I raised a stink about it and they somehow got me a community care or fee basis visit they covered a couple of months later.

I'm interested to see if the VA will still try retain control over when a veteran can use the choice program. If they do, then that would defeat the spirit of the mission act. I would like to go to the doctor of my choice, when I want, and have billing sent to the VA without having to go through the VA and beg for access to competent care.

[Berta]

Buck- you are close to or maybe right on the button with the BVA stats- I posted an article on that here recently somewhere- they hired more lawyers at the BVA.

Yes that is exactly what POTUS said- but I hope the Mission Act has made that clear- Ben Krauses' post I put into to in my Missions Act post causes me to wonder about VA will implement any of this.

When I have time ( this is the busiest part of my year) I will go over what the H and the S passed, that POTUS signed aqnd decifer it all and post my comments here. It would really be something if a million vets in the VA system tried to get private health care all at once. Lots of knots in VA underwear, if that ever happens! 

[Berta]

VYNC- we were posting here at the same time-you stated my thoughts exactly-

"I'm interested to see if the VA will still try retain control over when a veteran can use the choice program. If they do, then that would defeat the spirit of the mission act."    RIGHT!!!!!

 

 

Edited June 7, 2018 by Berta
spelling

[Buck52]

 I hear that Vync, Richard 1954 & Ms berta

 Here is a news report from my email. I forgot what News agency sent it? (Fox News ) I think?

WASHINGTON — President Trump signed legislation Wednesday paving the way for a major overhaul of the Department of Veterans Affairs and expanded access for veterans to VA-funded care in the private sector.

The measure, which passed both chambers of Congress last month with overwhelming bipartisan support, delivers on a key campaign promise for Trump, who pledged to provide veterans with more non-VA health care choices.

"What a beautiful word that is — choice — and freedom to our amazing veterans," Trump said at the signing ceremony. "All during the campaign I'd go out and say, 'why can't they just go see a doctor instead of standing in line for weeks and weeks and weeks?' Now they can go see a doctor."

Working out the details of exactly how and when that will happen is now up to agency officials tasked with drawing up regulations under the law.

If confirmed, Trump’s pick to lead the VA, Robert Wilkie, would lead that effort. Criteria to be considered include wait times for VA appointments, quality of VA care and distance from a VA facility.

Known as the VA MISSION Act, the law directs the VA to combine a number of existing private-care programs, including the so-called Choice program, which was created in 2014 after veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix VA.

Two veterans from Texas who traveled to Washington to be at the signing said the Choice program has been extremely helpful for them. Laura Vela, who served in the U.S. Army, and Air Force veteran Antonio Garcia said they previously had to drive nearly four hours each way to reach the nearest VA hospital in San Antonio.

"To me, it’s the perfect program," said Garcia, who had his knee replaced last year by a health care provider about a half mile from his home in Brownsville. 

"I think it’s a step forward," said Vela, who saw a private provider at VA expense for gall bladder surgery. "It is strengthening our health care, and I think it will improve the healthcare and welfare of all of our veterans."

The law also creates a commission to recommend which VA facilities are worth repairing, where new ones should be built, and which ones should be closed and care provided in the private sector instead.

The measure includes some incentives to help the VA hire more health care providers. It allows the agency to provide scholarships to medical students in exchange for their pledging to work at VA. Currently some 33,000 positions are unfilled at the agency.

In addition, the law provides pre-9/11 veterans with benefits to help cover the cost of in-home care-givers. Such benefits previously were provided only to post-9/11 veterans.

The VA also will be allowed to set up pilot programs under the law to test how to deliver better care more efficiently, including with public-private partnerships. 

"We're really encouraged about that," said Tony Tersigni, president of Ascension, the largest non-profit health system in the country.

In an interview before attending the signing at the White House, he dismissed concerns that such moves might mark the first step toward privatizing the VA.

"There's certain things that the VA has truly become world specialists in that it would be crazy for us to do away with or try to replicate it somewhere else," Tersigni said. "But there are things that we do extremely well, that we ought to bring to the advantage of a veteran."

More: Senate passes major VA overhaul; Trump expected to sign into law within day

[Buck52]

My concern to this mission act IS WILL WE GET QUALITY HEALTH CARE AT THE VA? using students to complete their residency at the VA!!!

Private Dr's....> yes probably so.