Letter to Senator Webb - Obamacare

[satan]

In today’s “Washington Times” a lead article begins with the sentence “Leading Democrats like to hold up the Veterans Benefits Administration as an example of how well government can provide health care.” On this I must comment.

What I shall describe below is a comparison of my treatment under the current MEDICARE/TRICARE system and that received from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Keep in mind that my treatment by VA was probably expedited as I was already receiving disability and was not new to the VA system when the claim described below was submitted. Someone newly entering the VA system would undoubtedly have a longer wait.

The weekend of 9 May 2009 I worked in my yard and moved several heavy items. On Sunday of that weekend my right tendon ached and felt like a cramp. This continued until 12 May at which time, because of pain and swelling, I went to the INOVA Urgent Care Center. After an examination there I was sent to the emergency room of Prince William Hospital for a possible blood clot in my right leg. Tests in the emergency room ruled out a blood clot and I was given a referral to an orthopedic doctor and told to get an orthopedic short-leg walker boot. I got the boot the next day and on the following Monday (18 May) went to my orthopedic appointment. The doctor ordered an x-ray of my foot, and after an examination diagnosed the condition as Charcot foot. He also concluded this condition was directly attributable to neuropathy resulting from diabetes.

I was then given an immediate appointment with Prince William Orthotics and Prosthetics where a mold of my feet was taken for special shoes. Two weeks later the shoes arrived and were fitted.

Total time elapsed from the initial diagnosis to receipt of shoes was about two weeks. There were no out-of -pocket expenses.

As service connected disability had already been established for diabetic neuropathy, and because MEDICARE only provides one pair of shoes annually I decided to apply for a related disability through the Department of Veterans Affairs. I then called the VA Hospital in Washington DC.

On 5 August 2009 I saw a podiatrist at Podiatry Clinic at the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC. The podiatrist’s assessment was Charcot Neuroarthropathy with exam showing collapse of midfoot/medial arch in right foot. I was told to wear an orthopedic short-leg walker boot until custom shoes could be made and sent to the x-ray clinic. After waiting for three hours in the clinic, and because public transportation I used was about to end for the day, I left without having an x-ray.

I must note that I told the podiatrist that I had already worn the boot and was wearing custom shoes but this made no difference.

In November 2009 I received a notice from the VA Hospital that I was scheduled for a follow-up examination at the Podiatry Clinic. I asked that I be scheduled for an x-ray in the morning as my appointment was in the afternoon. Again I waited for three hours for an x-ray finally leaving without one to meet my appointment time. I never did get an x-ray. This time I saw a different podiatrist who asked if I had my shoes. When I replied that I hadn’t been told anything about shoes I was told the letter must have been lost in the mail and I was sent to the prosthetics office. There I was given a prescription and told to make an appointment with a contract clinic in Alexandria, Virginia. In late November I had casts of my feet made and took them back to the VA Hospital. I guess the shoes are now in the mail.

VA results some eight months later are no x-rays and no shoes. Compare this to the two week results under the current MEDICARE/TRICARE system. Compare being seen by two podiatrists to being seen by an orthopedic surgeon. This is the Obamacare you’re supporting.

Senator Webb you’ve sold out. I’m very disappointed. In 1774 Patrick Henry stated “I Am Not a Virginian, But an American!" In 2009 James Webb seems to say “I am a Democrat first, Then an American.” Senator Webb I believe you were elected because we thought you’d do the right thing rather than what the political party dictated. Look at the public opinion polls. Be true to yourself.

[RexBeach]

Mr. Webb saddens me, too.

He said he’d be his own man in the Senate.

This was, obviously, a lie.

Thanks, Mr. Webb, for ruining the nation.

You should be ashamed.

[DPMD]

Webb has sold out on other issues as well, such as the matter of allowing conscience-based opposition to abortion by medical pros. But, it should have been apparent when he softened his once principled stand against admitting women to the US Naval Academy and into combat.