Posted on Jul 13, 2016
We Need To Talk About The Healthcare Promises Made To Vets
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I have the VA choice card. I was having BP problems when I went to my PA. They were very low. I told her I wanted to use my Choice Card to see an outside cardiologist. She told me I have to be referred by her to use it, but I had to be seen by the VA cardiologists first. I was very concerned about my heart and didn't want to have to wait a long time. I found out I was not eligible to use the Choice Card because, you have to live 40 miles from the nearest VA. There has to be no specialists at your VA, and you have to have an appointment at the VA which is longer than 30 days. So for me, the Choice Card is not an option. I did get appointments for tests at my VA, but, they are 20 to 25 days from when I was there. I asked what I should do if I have some heart problems before my appointments and was told to go to the ER department. To be continued.
What the report should’ve addressed is the affordability of healthcare promises made to veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is in trouble and under attack. This shouldn’t be groundbreaking news to anyone — it has been for a long time. With the release of the final report from the Commission on Care — the blue-ribbon panel established to make recommendations to improve VA healthcare services — more fodder has been given to critics who seek to privatize much of how VA serves patients. The report was released last week and much of what it offers is old news — essentially, it serves to give ammunition to viewpoints already held by different stakeholders.
What the report should’ve addressed is the affordability of healthcare promises made to veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is in trouble and under attack. This shouldn’t be groundbreaking news to anyone — it has been for a long time. With the release of the final report from the Commission on Care — the blue-ribbon panel established to make recommendations to improve VA healthcare services — more fodder has been given to critics who seek to privatize much of how VA serves patients. The report was released last week and much of what it offers is old news — essentially, it serves to give ammunition to viewpoints already held by different stakeholders.
We Need To Talk About The Healthcare Promises Made To Vets
Posted from taskandpurpose.comPosted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Healthcare
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Bottom line...if a Veteran has to wait for more than two weeks, they should be allowed to see an outside doctor. I have a VA Choice card and was told that they made several attempts to contact me. My phone has never rang and I have given them my phone number on 5 different occasions. The idea of asking and waiting to see a doctor is ridiculous. We are not children and should not be treated as such.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT C Mendez, The guidelines to use it are almost assured you won't use it. My dental appointments are sometimes two or three months apart. But, they are putting implants in, and it takes a year before the actual crown is put on the post. I don't think I could use it for oral surgery or the implants because the implants are a regimented process. It still upsets me I'll never be eligible to use the VA choice card.
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SGT C Mendez
That is a crying shame and totally unacceptable. They make it so that we have our hands tied behind our backs. Even for me, my knees and ankles are bad and I have had surgeries on both. It is still so regimented (as you have put it) that I have no say in my treatment. I love the fact that I proudly served my country and followed my orders but the VA's problem is that they do not acknowledge us as civilians. Yes we are Veterans but we should NOW have a say in our medical treatment and how we are treated.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Contraiwise, I'm generally thrilled with the services I've been able to receive at the VA...Frankly, for issues that are not service connected and really are in no way the "problem" of the government. I have TricareRS but often just use the local VA clinic instead. I recognize that I am personally benefiting on the dime of the American people. I'm grateful, but I don't feel I'm entitled to the benefits. So, if it becomes inconvenient, I'll put up with it or find private health care like everyone else.
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Veteran's need a real choice card not a choice card with when someone else determines when you can use it.
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SGT (Join to see)
Yes ma'am. I thought that what this card was. I've had it a few years but never tried to use it until now. It's worthless. It just takes up space in my wallet.
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The access to care standard for non-acute specialty care is 28 days. So 20-25 is not ideal, but is reasonable. I really hope everything is ok and you do not have to seek emergency care. I personally believe that the VA choice is well intending, but well lead to people dying due to the 28 day readmission rate and individuals not seeking primary care following a discharge. It is essentially a double edge sword.
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SGT (Join to see)
Yes Sir. Heart problems run in my family like melanoma cancer, so I hated to have to wait. But, I have no choice now. There's always the ER, if I have a problem.
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