Posted on Feb 16, 2023
SN Arte Mccollough
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In the past years I've submitted forms as requested, but never received any reply, so I gave up submitting forms. Now that the price of gas is extremely high, and these appointments are requested by the VA, can I get reimbursed?
Posted in these groups: D8c95694 Veterans Affairs (VA)
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Responses: 2
COL Randall C.
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Yes.

Easiest way (though it might take a bit) is to submit it though the Beneficiary Travel Self Service System (BTSSS)*

If you're going to a VA appointment at a VA facility, then it should automatically pop up in your appointment list. When you create your entry it will default to you driving and calculate the mileage based on a "Google Maps" route. Modify if needed.

If you don't have your bank information entered into the system (you will see it appear on the "profile review" screen), then they will mail a check to you once the claim is processed.

If you don't want to do it that way, then you can do the old fashioned way - give a filled out claim form to the beneficiary travel office at the VA facility.
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* https://dvagov-btsss.dynamics365portals.us/
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SN Arte Mccollough
SN Arte Mccollough
2 y
Thanks, I'll print this out and take it to my next appointment, arte
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COL Randall C.
COL Randall C.
2 y
SN Arte Mccollough - One thing. Are these community care appointments? If so, then make sure that the time/date of the appointment is being tracked by Community Care. If not, then it won't be in the appointment system and your travel claim will be denied.

This happens a lot if your appointment was a follow-up, multi-day procedure, and such that was scheduled by the provider. Many times they will get authorization for the future visit, but for some reason it doesn't make it onto the calendar. Call Community Care and confirm.
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MSG Thomas Currie
MSG Thomas Currie
2 y
Not everybody is eligible for paid travel for every appointment, but a lot of us are covered even though the VA never told us about it before...
https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/web/myhealthevet/ss20170927-can-i-get-travel-costs-for-va-health-care

You are absolutely correct about using BTSSS -- in most cases that is the ONLY way that the VA accepts travel claims (most offices refuse to consider paper forms now), but even though BTSSS is a centralized system, all travel claims are actually processed (manually!!) by local travel offices at each VAMC.

Even when BTSSS is working, it will rarely show VA appointments and I have never seen it show any appointment that the VA shoved off to "Community Care." You can enter the appointment yourself manually in BTSSS but you have to get all the information EXACTLY the way the VA has it, which typically means using the myhealth.va.gov website to look up how the VA listed the appointment, or checking the paper letter from Community Care authorizing the treatment.

I can't say what your VA travel office does with the claims, but around here they USED TO mail you a paper check if there wasn't bank information in their system, now they just send you a paper form to fill out your bank information and send back so they can enter the bank information (eventually) and then (even more eventually) they might get around to processing the travel claim.
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PFC Edgar Mosier
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It can get tricky, but if you follow the confusing directions, you'll get through online.

I have. But the pages are VERY slow - They are VA..., one knows.

https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-reimbursed-for-travel-pay/
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