Need help with VA benefits - VANITY

[RebelTXRose]

I am about to be named my brother's Power of Atty. His daughter is handling things now, but has run against a brick wall.

He is to be discharged from a nursing home after recovering from a concussion. He will be going directly to an assisted living facility. Before the hospita/nursing home visit, he was getting his meds at the VA for free.

His daughter was told today that they will not fill prescriptions from any doctor not related to the VA hospital in Dallas. That HE must come there to see a doctor and then get his prescriptions filled there. That is an ALL DAY excursion. Is there anyway to order his meds thru the mail?

[RebelTXRose]

Is there a vet out there who can help me understand how his benefits work? I'm in New York and he is in Dallas. Thanks to any who can offer advice.

[TSgt]

Meds by mail:

http://www4.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/meds/meds-west.asp

Be prepared to weave through a massive bureaucracy. Be vigilant and patient, the VA moves VERY SLOW.

[Altura Ct.]

If it is for a reoccurring prescription that has been prescribed by a VA Doc he can reorder over the phone.

[hinckley buzzard]

Try your congressman's office or one of the service organizations like VFW, who have people to help veterans get their just benefits.

[autumnraine]

He does have to come in for the initial visit to get the proper prescription equivalent for him. Some medicines that he is on may be an extended release and the VA might only cover the cheaper medicine that requires he take it more.

Yes, it is an all day excursion and it sucks, but once he gets the prescriptions filled, he will be able to renew by mail.

My dad only had to go in once a year for medicine annual visit, but it sure saved in medicine. It’s not totally free, there is a small copay, but it’s nominal.

[drjulie]

My father is a vet served by the VA. He gets his through mail order and it works well. If you have difficulty with the web site posted above contact his current VA provider and see if they can help. I actually have been fairly pleased with the service in Omaha.

[Doogle]

...is he registered with the VA? If not get help registering, then set up his physical, then get the meds.

[RebelTXRose]

that makes me feel better - I was worried about having to go down there MONTHLY! My niece simply isn’t able physically to endure the all day excusion. I now have something to give the assisted living place to make sure he gets a ride to the VA.

Thanks!

[Doogle]

whoops misread your post....get help from local American legion post or VFW...

[RebelTXRose]

He’s already registered, I think - he’s been going there for years. Just NOW getting the application completed for the monthly benefit (I cannot imagine this brother leaving money on anyone’s table).

Thanks!

[jiminycricket000]

"His daughter was told today that they will not fill prescriptions from any doctor not related to the VA hospital in Dallas. That HE must come there to see a doctor and then get his prescriptions filled there. That is an ALL DAY excursion. Is there anyway to order his meds thru the mail?"

Yes, you can recive meds from the VA through the mail, but they have to be prescribed by a VA doctor. However, their used to be a thing in the VA called "fee basis", (don't know if it exists anymore), where the VA will pay for private care if it is too difficult for a patient to get VA help. Your best bet is to get the DAV, (Disabled American Veterans organization), to help you. They are really great at helping veterans with any kind of VA problems, and they are free. Find out where your Regional DAV is located and give them a call. Good luck and God speed.

[grwcfl537]

One of the little known secrets is that generating more paperwork than the VA sends you, and doing it quickly, will usually get results. If you have a scanner, or can find the forms on line, keep them going, if you can respond the next day, that is best. If he was a member of VFW or DAV, check with a local chapter and see if they can submit a duplicate set of forms.

Mel (30+ yrs USN)

[mountainlion]

I just got this and I am sure it can help a lot of people. Sorry for the length. Comment: Someone has gone to a lot of trouble. If this helps one person, then it was worthwhile. Please pass this on to all Veterans on you e-mail list. Below are web-sites that provide information on Veterans benefits and how to file/ask for them. Accordingly, there are many sites that explain how to obtain books, military/medical records, information and how to appeal a denied claim with the VA. Please pass this information on to every Veteran you know. Nearly 100% of this information is free and available for all veterans, the only catch is: you have to ask for it, because they won’t tell you about a specific benefit unless you ask for it. You need to know what questions to ask so the right doors open for you and then be ready to have an advocate who is willing to work with and for you, stay in the process, and press for your rights and your best interests. Appeals http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch05.doc Board of Veteran’s Appeals http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/ CARES Commission http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/ CARES Draft National Plan http://www1.va.gov/cares/page.cfm?pg=105 Center for Minority Veterans http://www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/ Center for Veterans Enterprise http://www.vetbiz.gov/default2.htm Center for Women Veterans http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/ Clarification on the changes in VA healthcare for Gulf War Veterans http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000016.html Classified Records - American Gulf War Veterans Assoc http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000011.html Compensation for Disabilities Associated with the Gulf War Service http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/part6%20/ch07.doc Compensation Rate Tables, 12-1-03 http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm Department of Veterans Affairs Home Page http://www.va.gov/ Directory of Veterans Service Organizations http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view Disability Examination Worksheets Index, Comp http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/index.htm Due Process http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch02.doc Duty to Assist http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch01.doc Electronic Code of Federal Regulations http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/ Emergency, Non-emergency, and Fee Basis Care http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf Environmental Agents http://www1.va.gov/environagents/ Environmental Agents M10 http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1002 Establishing Combat Veteran Eligibility http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=315 EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR GULF WAR AND IRAQI FREEDOM VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU)http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHandbook1303122304.DOC and http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1158 See also, Depleted Uranium Fact Sheet http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DepletedUraniumFAQSheet.doc EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR NON-GULF WAR VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU)http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHANDBOOKNONGW130340304.DOC Fee Basis, PRIORITY FOR OUTPATIENT MEDICAL SERVICES AND INPATIENT HOSPITAL CAREhttp://www1.va..gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=206 Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependants 2005 http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf OR,http://www1.va..gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.htm Forms and Records Request http://www.va.gov/vaforms/ General Compensation Provisions http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter11_subchaptervi_.html Geriatrics and Extended Care http://www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg/ Guideline for Chronic Pain and Fatigue MUS-CPG http://www.oqp.med.va.gov/cpg/cpgn/mus/mus_base.htm Guide to Gulf War Veteran’s Health http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/VHIgulfwar.pdf Gulf War Subject Index http://www1.va.gov/GulfWar/page.cfm?pg=7&template=main&letter=A Gulf War Veteran’s Illnesses Q&As http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/GWIllnessesQandAsIB1041.pdf Hearings http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch04.doc Homeless Veterans http://www1.va.gov/homeless/ HSR&D Home http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/ Index to Disability Examination Worksheets C&P exams http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/exams/index.htm Ionizing Radiation http://www1.va.gov/irad/ Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom Veterans VBA http://www.vba.va.gov/EFIF/ M 10 for spouses and children VHA Public Health Strategic Health Care Group Home Page http: // www.publichealth.va.gov/ VHI Guide to Gulf War Veterans (tm) Health http://www1.va.gov/vhi_ind_study/gulfwar/istudy/index.asp Vocational Rehabilitation http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/ Vocational Rehabilitation Subsistence http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/InterSubsistencefy04.doc VONAPP online http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp WARMS - 38 CFR Book C http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html Wartime Disability Compensation http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1110 War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center - New Jersey http://www.wri.med.va.gov/ Welcome to the GI Bill Web Site http://www.gibill.va.gov/ What VA Social Workers Do http://www1.va.gov/socialwork/page.cfm?pg=3 WRIISC Patient Eligibility http://www.illegion.org/va1.html Print this out and save it in your VA files. There may be a time for use in the future. PASS THIS ON TO ALL VETERANS YOU KNOW

[vpintheak]

There must be a misunderstanding of some sort. I am lucky enough to live near a VA clinic, but all of my medications come through the VA by mail from Anchorage.
Your brother may have to be seen there, unless you can find a reason why he should not travel, then he could be seen locally possibly. There is no reason why the meds can’t be mailed to you. I refill by internet and they show up.

[rottndog]

autumnraine pretty much nailed it...the one caveat is that you are not familiar with the system. You might want to get help from the Ombudsman for the VA center you are going to go to. I looked up Dallas, and there doesn't appear to be a VA hospital there. I did find a Veterans center there. Here is a clickable link to get there for info:

Dallas Veterans Center

Call the office there, and tell them the situation. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

If that doesn't get you anywhere, you need to find the closest VA Hospital by looking here:

Texas State VA Directory

Again, get in touch with the Ombudsman at the facility you need to go through. They will help with your situation.

Hope that helps.

[RebelTXRose]

Mountainlion:

YOU ARE AWESOME!!

Thanks to all who’ve helped! I have to digest this... WOW!

[firebasecody]

Yes, the VA can be a trial in and of itself. Their first priority is Vets with a service connected health issue. I get my meds on 3 month presecription orders through the mail. I have to meet with the doc about every 3 months.

You will need one of you to be his liason with the VA. The administrative support can be quite, uh, challenging.

[mountainlion]

I got that in an e-mail just minutes ago.

Good luck.

[RebelTXRose]

There is a hospital in dallas - 4500 S. lancaster road. I have many phone calls to make come morning! that POA can’t get signed quick enough!

[rottndog]

Excellent! I hope everything works out OK for you and your family.