Secondary Dr in NY State

[scottinmt]

I have significant peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands.  I had an appointment to see a podiatrist and I kid you not the doctor was so busy working on his computer I sat there for 2 minutes waiting for him to acknowledge me.  He then spent no more than 2 minutes with me and sent me on my way. He was inept, If I get even a scratch on my lower legs it takes months to heal and this clown wouldn't even listen to me.

My neuropathy has worsened over the last 6 years.  More pain, atrophy of both the muscle and the fat pads, and even less sensitivity.  I am on a dose of gabapentin that exceeds the pharmaceutical recommendation.

Before I submitted my claim for a secondary rating on my hands and feet I paid for a nerve conduction study and EMG.  In Tucson I simply called the office and set it up.  Here in NY the medical establishment is a club.  Specialists won't even see you unless they receive a referral.  Do you think that the VA is going to give the veteran a referral outside of their sub-par folks?  So I thought I would call a podiatrist and set up an appointment for a foot check thinking that the podiatrist would give me a referral for the nerve conduction study... nope, same thing, they want a referral from the VA. The joke is I have secondary medical insurance but can't seem to hire my own doctors without the VA being involved.

I know this is a rant, I was wondering if any of you have the same issue?

[pwrslm]

The VA will require your PCP to submit a consult on this. Instead of going straight to the specialist, the best route would be to get your primary to validate the condition and refer you. VA will not bend on this. Depending on your private insurance, you may be required to do the same thing. Some carriers allow direct consults by the insured, others do not, so check your insurance terms.

 

I have CHAMPVA, and can go directly to a specialist. Ran into similar walls that you did. Solved that by going to a hospital that accepts Medicare. There is a federal law that requires them to refer you to a doctor/specialist if they participate in the Medicare program. I got a referral to a neurologist this way.

[scottinmt]

I have Aetna and they do not require a referral to see a specialist, they also don't need to pre-approve seeing a specialist.  I found a podiatrist today that doesn't require a referral, I'm hoping they will give me a referral to the Dr who performs nerve conduction studies.  I would rather go see a Dr for this analysis than a non-Dr at the VA

[Mr cue]

I could be wrong but it sound like you might be asking these doctors to give a opinion on your va disabled.

I found it better to not ask for a opinion on va disabled

doctors clam up.

I just let them do there thing and write the report.

I tell them when I got the injury.

U now have a report. With your condition and It address all time period of your injury. For va purposes

You should be able to call any nerve doctor. To just get your condition look at

I would even try a outside chiropractor.

He can order all exams.

I had to go threw something like this before.