Posted on Jun 5, 2015
Ambulance company: VA not moving fast enough on claims - Yet another hitch in the get-along?
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“It’s totally unacceptable what’s happening,” Abraham, a physician and Army veteran, said after Wednesday’s hearing. “Our veterans are getting negative credit ratings because they are having to get the bill that the VA should have paid months, if not years ago.”
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2015/06/03/ambulance-company-va-moving-fast-enough-claims/28439291/
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2015/06/03/ambulance-company-va-moving-fast-enough-claims/28439291/
Posted in these groups: 
Health
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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Having been a civilian Paramedic,and now working for the VA, a lot of things come into play:
Was the ambulance called needed, or could an alternative means of transportation been used? A lot of non-emergent calls can be done be wheel chair services which cost far less then by ambulance.
Was it authorized, prior to the veteran getting on the rig, did the VA set up the ride, or did the Veteran, this gets into the gray area of who is going to pay.
Is it a provider who has a contract with the VA or not? The VA, like any good hospital has a contract with a provider to ambulance transportation services for them. It stream lines paperwork, and payments.
Not everything is VA bashing paperwork, tell me of a civilian hospital that will pay your ambulance bill?
Was the ambulance called needed, or could an alternative means of transportation been used? A lot of non-emergent calls can be done be wheel chair services which cost far less then by ambulance.
Was it authorized, prior to the veteran getting on the rig, did the VA set up the ride, or did the Veteran, this gets into the gray area of who is going to pay.
Is it a provider who has a contract with the VA or not? The VA, like any good hospital has a contract with a provider to ambulance transportation services for them. It stream lines paperwork, and payments.
Not everything is VA bashing paperwork, tell me of a civilian hospital that will pay your ambulance bill?
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
True that.
How did the VA become the responsible party in the first place?
How did the VA become the responsible party in the first place?
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CW3 Kevin Storm
Goes back to can a Veteran afford to pay or the status of the Veteran. It gets to be a complicated thing, and not in my area. but I do get to see some of the agreements with the providers. If it is a situation where the it is an authorized legitimate bill, then the VA should pay. But if it is one where the Vet took it upon themselves without authorization, than they may have to pay for it.
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
True enough CW3 Kevin Storm! I'm a Paramedic working for a county service. You wouldn't BELIEVE some of the silly things people call an ambulance for and then get upset because their insurance won't pay for a toothache or stubbed toe.
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Great another issue to fix quickly. That's all we need is hits on our Credit reports!
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Slippery slope I think in one way. Calling an ambulance as the regulations which VA implemented based on laws established by Congress has to have a basis for VA to reimburse. Just because one has served and is seen by VA, doesn't justify a call to an ambulance company for transfer. I am aware of some rural veterans who can't get a ride in for a routine visit so they call their local volunteer ambulance company for transfer. This falls out of the purview of the law. There are others who are suffering a true medical emergency and ambulance is the recommended transfer. Unfortunately the onus falls upon the veteran if it's not an "authorized" transfer.
So what are these unpaid bills based upon?
Ironically, VA spent millions of taxpayer dollars on a book they handed out to each veteran a couple of years ago. It has a full range of medical conditions. If not in all, then almost all of the conditions highlights the symptoms and what to do, but if the problem persist then the veteran should report to the ER. It doesn't say, call an ambulance. If the problem is serious enough for an ER visit, then why isn't it serious enough to call an ambulance?
So what are these unpaid bills based upon?
Ironically, VA spent millions of taxpayer dollars on a book they handed out to each veteran a couple of years ago. It has a full range of medical conditions. If not in all, then almost all of the conditions highlights the symptoms and what to do, but if the problem persist then the veteran should report to the ER. It doesn't say, call an ambulance. If the problem is serious enough for an ER visit, then why isn't it serious enough to call an ambulance?
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