Ambulance company: VA not moving fast enough on claims - Yet another hitch in the get-along?

2015-06-05T09:29:57-04:00

“It’s totally unacceptable what’s happening,” Abraham, a physician and Army veteran, said after Wednesday’s hearing. “Our veterans are getting negative credit ratings because they are having to get the bill that the VA should have paid months, if not years ago.”

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2015/06/03/ambulance-company-va-moving-fast-enough-claims/28439291/

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 9:31 AM

2015-06-05T09:31:15-04:00

Great another issue to fix quickly. That's all we need is hits on our Credit reports!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 5 at 2015 10:47 AM

2015-06-05T10:47:22-04:00

I'll believe it when I see it!!!

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 5 at 2015 11:08 AM

2015-06-05T11:08:27-04:00

Having been a civilian Paramedic,and now working for the VA, a lot of things come into play:

Was the ambulance called needed, or could an alternative means of transportation been used? A lot of non-emergent calls can be done be wheel chair services which cost far less then by ambulance.

Was it authorized, prior to the veteran getting on the rig, did the VA set up the ride, or did the Veteran, this gets into the gray area of who is going to pay.

Is it a provider who has a contract with the VA or not? The VA, like any good hospital has a contract with a provider to ambulance transportation services for them. It stream lines paperwork, and payments.

Not everything is VA bashing paperwork, tell me of a civilian hospital that will pay your ambulance bill?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 7:33 PM

2015-06-05T19:33:19-04:00

Tricare is just as bad. Took me almost 4 months and a threat for a congressional complaint before Tricare finally paid for my son's Ambulance ride. And he was involved in a major vehicle accident.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Jun 7 at 2015 10:43 AM

2015-06-07T10:43:39-04:00

Slippery slope I think in one way. Calling an ambulance as the regulations which VA implemented based on laws established by Congress has to have a basis for VA to reimburse. Just because one has served and is seen by VA, doesn't justify a call to an ambulance company for transfer. I am aware of some rural veterans who can't get a ride in for a routine visit so they call their local volunteer ambulance company for transfer. This falls out of the purview of the law. There are others who are suffering a true medical emergency and ambulance is the recommended transfer. Unfortunately the onus falls upon the veteran if it's not an "authorized" transfer.

So what are these unpaid bills based upon?

Ironically, VA spent millions of taxpayer dollars on a book they handed out to each veteran a couple of years ago. It has a full range of medical conditions. If not in all, then almost all of the conditions highlights the symptoms and what to do, but if the problem persist then the veteran should report to the ER. It doesn't say, call an ambulance. If the problem is serious enough for an ER visit, then why isn't it serious enough to call an ambulance?