Posted on 01/26/2025 7:09:10 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statements after introducing the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which would help improve veterans’ access to health care by reducing the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) role in the community care referral process:
“Under the Biden-Harris administration, veterans were discouraged from seeking community care by layers of bureaucratic red tape and a lack of accessibility to their local medical providers,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Veterans Health Care Freedom Act would right this wrong by empowering veterans to directly schedule appointments at non-VA medical facilities, which will remove unnecessary barriers and provide veterans with greater autonomy to access the care they need.”
I have to drive almost two hours to go to the nearest VA hospital. If I were to use hospitals closer to me, there’s a lot of red tape to go through.
Why can’t we issue eligible veterans a card, like they would get from a private health insurance company, and then with that card go to the health care providers they chose?
There is a card, and I've used it, that if you have to go to an emergency room the VA will pay for it including the ambulance ride. You do have to contact the VA with a 1-800 number within 3 days.
I’m on community care (CC) where I live cause the nearest hospital is about 140 miles away. Recently had an annual cardio appointment. When I got my statement in I felt sorry for doctor. The VA only paid him $13 and some change for the EKG and checkup. I got a strong feeling these doctors are goina end up not accepting vets under CC.
bump for later
Wuli wrote:
“
Why can’t we issue eligible veterans a card, like they would get from a private health insurance company, and then with that card go to the health care providers they chose?
“
Card already exists; its a VHIC (Veterans Health Insurance Card) card.
Have the community care providers accept that.
“Our wonderful Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn”
She’s so wonderful she voted to confirm Biden’s stolen election.
The systems have to be built by which outside providers can obtain reimbursemnets the cards make someone eligible for. Health care providers have private insurers systems they connect to for that. They do not exist from them to the VA, nor does the VA have an externally connected system identifying what a VA card holder is an is not eligible for, or to what extent they are eligible (there are different deductibles depending on someone’s annual income).
I have metastatic prostate cancer. A number of years ago, the VA decided they wouldn’t pay for my care at MD Anderson. Fortunately, I have Medicare A, B, and F plans, so I can still see my oncologist at MDA.
The VA said I’d have to see an oncologist, who knows less about prostate cancer who told me he wouldn’t rewrite my prescriptions unless I stopped seeing my MDA oncologist. Well that wasn’t going to happen.
For the first few years, my MDA oncologist could write prescriptions and that was fine. About two years ago, the VA told me I had to see a VA contract oncologist if I was to get my prescription.
How stupid could it get. I told the VA rep and the VA Chief Medical Officer I’d be going to the media with this bullshit policy if they didn’t call by close of business telling me they’d fill my prescription. They knew I was serious, and I got my prescription.
To be fair, the patient advocate set me up to call the Chief Medical Officer and he said the policy was bullshit and made no effort to defend it.
Any number of Vets will tell you that the VA worked the best it ever has under the 1st Trump Administration
What if you are too ill to call?
Someone else can call for you, either a loved one or the hospital billing department. When I used it, my wife called the VA and they connected to the hospital and everything was taken care of without hassle.
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