Posted on 04/18/2017 8:22:07 AM PDT by Olog-hai
Some ailing veterans can now use their federal health care benefits at CVS “MinuteClinics” to treat minor illnesses and injuries, under a pilot program announced Tuesday by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The new program, currently limited to the Phoenix area, comes three years after the VA faced allegations of chronically long wait times at its centers, including its Phoenix VA medical center, which treats about 120,000 veterans.
The Phoenix pilot program is a test-run by VA Secretary David Shulkin who is working on a nationwide plan to reduce veterans’ wait times.
Veterans would not be bound by current restrictions under the VA’s Choice program, which limits outside care to those who have been waiting more than 30 days for an appointment or have to drive more than 40 miles to a facility. Instead, Phoenix VA nurses staffing the medical center’s help line will be able to refer veterans to MinuteClinics for government-paid care when “clinically appropriate.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
To be checked out by a wellness-geek (with no degree) and pushing vitamins or band-aides?
Good old common sense.
CVS?!!? Wait times?
I tried their minute clinic. They’re not sure what a minute is. And their pharmacy? Forget about it. 1970 computers.
But that’s here.
I wish it the best as at least they are trying something. :)
CVS Clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners stationed by the pharmacy. Nothing close to a hospital or even urgent care facility.
No. To be seen by Nurse Practitioners, just like they (we) may very well see at the VA.
I am not a fan of the CVS Minute Clinic, they provide too basic a service. I would like it more if they contracted with free standing urgent care clinics, which are more robust. By robust I mean the can do X-Rays and basic labs.
I keep hearing about these mini clinics, but have yet to see one.
I am not a fan of the CVS Minute Clinic, they provide too basic a service. I would like it more if they contracted with free standing urgent care clinics, which are more robust. By robust I mean the can do X-Rays and basic labs.
My buddy went to one. They charged him $100, took his vitals and told him to go to an urgent care clinic. What a deal! LOL.
If the government is paying, EVERY patient will AUTOMATICALLY need extensive lab work and X-rays.
“CVS Clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners stationed by the pharmacy. Nothing close to a hospital or even urgent care facility.”
Need both.
If you just need your flu shot you don’t go to the hospital.
It appears the VA Choice program (where a vet can use his own doctor downtown) is being extended pending a more permanent legislation.
I’m hoping this more permanent legislation includes being allowed to use our own pharmacies downtown.
Trump will follow through on his VA overhaul promise, and it appears to be in the works. The final language and when it is all passed and signed into law is yet another issue.
I have faith.
Oh, this will go well; the only thing CVS is good for, is the half-price chocolate after a holiday.
Free Market Solution!!!! Awesome!!!
swamp creatures are concerned...communists are deeply saddened...
Nooooo Not CVS for anything!
This is a late April Fools joke, right?
I dropped CVS as my pharmacy because it took 3 days and a missed dental appointment to fill a simple Amoxicillin antibiotic prescription. I have to take it 1 hour before my dental appointments because I have an implant.
Privatize the VA.
My understanding that Soros has controlling interest in CVS and it seems as if all the new drug stores in our area are only CVS. We only have a choice between Walgreen’s, CVS and Wally World. Two mom and pop pharmacists in our area of the suburbs - which were excellent - were run out of business when Wally World moved in. Wally World’s prescription prices are always a little bit less to a lot less in cost than Walgreen’s for those who pay out-of-pocket.
We just never ever frequent CVS.
Fee basis is still around too...
I was in Murfreesboro yesterday (150 miles from my house)and told I could go to a Chattanooga hospital for a procedure using fee basis...
SO can I go to CVS for my chemo treatments???
Similar situation here in CT; we have Walgreens & CVS right next to one another; I don’t know how the population can support this.
I go for the marked down candy; at one time Walgreens used to refill printer carts...that was always a good savings.
Most of our mom&pop pharmacies are gone. Sadly. I loved our small local pharma service. They knew you, you knew them. Not some snotty teenager who acts like you are pond scum.
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