Non-VA care

[Through the looking glass]

Hello all, 

 

I receive steroid injections in multiple locations for my spine. My rheumatologist at the VA put in for me to receive the injections closer to my home (the nearest VA hospital is a 4 hour round trip drive, we have a small outpatient clinic 30 min from my house, but it only handles basic needs and none of the specialty care I require). The request was denied.  The advocate that would have helped veterans with these types of issues was let go recently and when I talked to a different patient advocate, they said it’s been a mess since then, as many veterans who qualify for outside care have been hitting road bumps (so to speak).  My question, is who do I contact to find out why it was denied, and how do I approach the issue?  

[broncovet]

Yes, I have heard of this "glitch before", and, its difficult in VA to find out who to talk to about your issue.  I think you could start with the patient advocates office in the VAMC where you were treated.  If that does not produce the result you want,   My suggestion is you go to the Directors office at the VAMC where you were treated and ask him your question.  

[Buck52]

Do you get SSDI?

If not you should apply  for it,  my spouse has bad back had multi surgery's and she gets the injections  they have to put her to sleep , she gets them once a month  ,medicare pays it ,and champVA Helps she has  very bad spine and osteoporosis has made he spine like mush.

She sees a Private Dr  that takes medicare patients.  she is thinking bout having the spinal stemulator implanted in her  for pain control .  they have a new one out now that has leads that go to the right & left sides  for both thrisic and lumbar areas 4 leads in all...  this is not a TENS UNIT its fairly new to the market.

[Through the looking glass]

Buck52 no I'm not on SSDI, and you're not the first person to tell me I should apply. The whole process seems so daunting to me that I just haven't done it. Also, even though the drive is long to see the specialists I see, my care has been really good through the VA hospital I go to. Recently, however, things haven't been good and I've come to realize that one of my doctor's hasn't been quite on top of things like I thought and I've had to go in for more treatments. It's been very frustrating, as I have to come to terms with my failing body. I will have my husband help me put in my application for SSDI this weekend and get it done.   Ill ask about that new implant my next appointment as well. 

 

Thank you 

[pwrslm]

Go to release of information, ask them for copies of all of the consults in this chain for care. That should give you everything that they have on who and why the request was denied. It could be something simple as a blood test needs to be done or as bad as someone dropped the ball.

[Buck52]

Well the VA Clinics will only do so much and what they try if that don't seem to be helping or just Temp  then were all out of Luck using the VA.

.ONE THING ONE OF THE VA Dr's mention is they can only do so many steroids injections  because  to many will cause other health problems  like neurology  problems and things that could lead to having seizures...so she opt out of the VA HEALTHCARE.

The job she was working at they did accommodate her needs  but it got to where she could not do her job even with the employer accommodated her disabled needs under the disable care act  so they had to let her go!

She had to quit her job 3 years ago and her loss of income hurt us  she was making twice the amount I get for 100% plus 2 SMC Payments.

we never opt for private insurance  we had relied on the VA Healthcare system. for years  the VA did open heart surgery on her that saved her life at age 50   14 years ago.

 She applied for SSDI and was render totally disabled..the monthly pay sux but its better than nothing   but the medicare is a big help.

I'll ask her about that spinal stemulator and get back to ya.

[Through the looking glass]

Buck52, I am running into the same issue, with “having too many injections” I did notice some complications this last time and have been concerned that steroid injections are not going to be an option for me in the near future.  I’m glad she is getting the care she needs, sometime I think that’s the hardest part when we are super ill.  The VA health care I’ve received up until recently has been good.  The cynic in me feels that since things have gotten more complicated, I am now getting resistance from either the system or certain providers.