Does VA 'Choice Card' really give veterans much choice?

2015-07-24T09:08:41-04:00

PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) -

It was supposed to be one of the great fixes following the VA wait time scandal: A card that allowed veterans who had waited more than 30 days to get medical care from an outside provider. Now, it looks like more promises have been broken.

The Choice Card was part of a piece of legislation Congress passed just last year. Those choices in medical care were said to be especially useful for those who live long distances from the bigger medical centers like the Phoenix VA.

The whole point of the VA Choice Card was to give veterans like Joseph Dimeco, who spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, options in choosing their medical care.

"Can't get treatment at the VA because they don't provide, like for my legs," Dimeco explained. "I had lymphedema and I had to have the veins taken out."

The list of ailments he doesn't feel the Phoenix VA can treat continues.

"I have TBI and I have a sleep disorder that goes along with it," Dimeco explained.

He knows how he would use the card, however.

"I would prefer acupuncture," he said. "I would prefer meditation and relaxation techniques."

However, in nearly eight months, Dimeco hasn't used his card once. Although the card was designed to provide flexibility in veteran medical care, unless one lives at least 40 miles from a medical center or has a body of water or piece of land blocking their drive, they're not authorized to use it.

Dimeco said he thinks that's meant to deter veterans from using the Choice Card.

Many veterans like him have told us they feel like they have anything but choices.

"Everyone I've met with a Choice Card, with the exception of about one or two, have actually been able to use the Choice Card," explained Matthew Dobson, local director for Concerned Veterans for America.

Dobson says problems with the card don't end there.

"The outside provider didn't get payment from the VA," Dobson said as he remembered one story of issues with someone who did use the card. "Now you are seeing veterans who are using the Choice Card and having their credit affected for medical debt."

Congress is expected next week to take up a "Chapter 2" of the VA Accountability Act that established the Choice Card. However, it's expected it will focus on giving the VA additional powers to fire poor performing managers, as well as provide protections for whistleblowers.

Copyright 2015 KPHO/KTVK (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.

Read more: http://www.kpho.com/story/29622387/is-the-va-choice-card-really-giving-veterans-much-choice#ixzz3goWCQ7Ip

The whole point of the VAChoice card was to give veterans like Joseph Dimeco,who spent 20 years in the U.S.Army, options in choosing their medical care.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jul 24 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-07-24T09:34:28-04:00

Well, in my case it really does. At least I don't have to drive to Vermont or Massachusetts any more.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 24 at 2015 9:48 AM

2015-07-24T09:48:15-04:00

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. I am hopeful that the VA Choice Card program helps Vets who are remote from major VA facilities.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Jul 24 at 2015 10:45 AM

2015-07-24T10:45:09-04:00

We have had only two experiences so far with this option. The first one we're receiving a bill for labs and when we called the "Tricare" contractor that VA is using to administer this program, the contractor indicated we weren't supposed to get a bill from the lab. Three days later, we get a statement from the Tricare contractor that we owe the lab the $115.00. Normally, we would go ballistic, but realize this is probably just a "systems" issue. Meaning that the process is electronic on the contractor's side and being that we're VA they have to do something manually to correct. If we get more bills in a couple of weeks, then I will get with the facility Director (my old Boss). If she ignores it, not a problem, I will put it on blast to the local and national news stations, Rally Point, and the elected officials on the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. But I fully expect this isn't necessary.

The second one, no bills yet and none expected.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 24 at 2015 11:54 AM

2015-07-24T11:54:17-04:00

I won't reveal names - they can if they choose to. I have helped veterans for whom the Choice card has been a huge fail. If you live in a remote area and the providers there have no info or training, they won't take it. Further, there are huge delays in getting care while waiting for authorizations.

The Choice card is also taking money away from VAMC's, which is resulting in worsening backlogs at many. This has also contributed to the VHA's huge budget shortfall this year...

Just another reason why vouchers are not a great idea...

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Jul 24 at 2015 7:35 PM

2015-07-24T19:35:09-04:00

I never had to use my VA choice card. I've never had a problem getting in to see my doctor at the VA and when I need to see a specialist my doctor sends out a request right away...next thing I know the specialist dept is calling me making me an appointment.
One time about 7 yrs ago I needed surgery. There was not a surgeon on staff that could perform it so right away I was given a voucher and a list of civilian doctors. I called, got an appointment, took my voucher and next thing you know it I had my surgery.
It upsets me to hear and know that there are many out there that have problems with their VA facility. I wish all of you had a well oiled machine like my VA is.

Response by SPC Anne Miller made Jul 26 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-07-26T13:04:01-04:00

I have used it with success so far.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Jul 26 at 2015 2:58 PM

2015-07-26T14:58:37-04:00

I've only had one opportunity come up to use mine, and was told by VA that I couldn't... While going through my recent P&C evaluation reviews, one of the evals they wanted accomplished is a sleep study that would require that I stay over night at the Tucson VA (74 miles away). Due to my work schedule, I couldn't make it within the 30 day window (they can't/won't do it on week-ends) they had scheduled for me, but there is a sleep study clinic here in Sierra Vista right down the road from where I live. I told them about it, and asked if I could use the VA Choice card to get it done since I would be outside the 30 day window, but was told no as all P&C evaluations and reviews have to be accomplished at the nearest VA hospital, even though I have a HCP here at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Sierra Vista who would be more than happy to write the referral to have it accomplished (call me crazy, but that would still allow VA oversight)... Needless to say, VA Hospitals do not communicate with VA Outpatient clinics, so I'm still trying to get it accomplished as I also learned that if you can't make the appointment date they have scheduled for you within 30 days of their receipt of the request (I'm speaking of P&C evals only), the 30 day window seems to "vanish" and the hurry to get you in vanishes as well... My card is now collecting dust on my desk...

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jul 26 at 2015 3:18 PM

2015-07-26T15:18:18-04:00

When it comes to veteran healthcare issues, the government does not care.

Response by CPT Brent Ferguson made Oct 15 at 2015 6:37 PM

2015-10-15T18:37:58-04:00

I Ets'd 23 yrs ago and got my first veterans choice card this month. Been waiting 12 Mos for surgery on a service connected trauma. If it's not broken, then the veterans choice program wasn't intended to work.

Response by SrA Mandy Snyder made Jul 29 at 2016 2:52 PM

2016-07-29T14:52:50-04:00

I have tried to use it, no success yet. No one accepts it. I live 46 miles from the medical center, and have been told to wait for an appointment only to have that one canceled, to have that rescheduled canceled, "rinse and repeat"... I no longer have a clue where that card is. I believe that because I do have other insurance no one will accept appointment scheduling utilizing it.

Response by CPT Brent Ferguson made Aug 4 at 2016 1:33 PM

2016-08-04T13:33:31-04:00

UPDATE: Have been in VA system now 2 years. Here's my experience with the VC (pun intended)
I was accepted into the VA after the last round of acceptances into VC. So I wasn't eligible until congress extended the benefit to include the year I enrolled in VA.

Once in VC, I've found some interesting things out. Here's how the basic process works:
1) your VA caregiver orders a consult or special procedure (like a sleep study or surgery)
2) you must try to schedule thru VA (more on this later)
3) get the VA to schedule you more than 3 months out (tell them you want to use VC)
4) wait 1-6 months for the VA to send an authorization to VC
(you can speed that up by calling your local patient advocate - but in Atlanta there were several months when the transmittal system was flat out broken)
5) keep calling VC to find out when they get that auth, explain you've been waiting far longer than 30d, and ask for expedited scheduling
6) GIVE THEM YOUR AVAILABILITY AND PREFERENCES OF LOCATION AS SOON AS THEY HAVE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE VA.
7) you can go to the VC website and find out what providers are available for what you need done near your location (I actually call those providers and tell them I'll have a healthnet (VC) referral coming, when do they have open?)
8) ask them to pencil you in, pending VC calling to schedule - and please give VC that date/time for the appt.
9) call VC and let them know you have located an approved provider with an acceptable time
10) VC scheduling then approves the date/time (without that your provider won't get paid)
11) go to your appointment

Note: you can wait for VC to schedule you, but it likely won't fit your schedule. and takes a lot longer.
YOU MUST SCHEDULE THRU VA - why? because VC does not work as you hoped.

VC referrals are based upon YOUR distance from the NEAREST VA provider, whether or not the service you are being referred to is available at that location. For example, you need a sleep study - your local clinic is 10 miles away and does not offer sleep studies. YOU DONT QUALIFY FOR VC because there's a VA facility 10 miles from you. BUT, if you have to wait more than 30 days for a VA appointment, you ignore the distance rule and can go to VC - but you MUST SCHEDULE WITH VA FIRST to get that VC authorization.

Hope that makes it clear as mud! I learned this after waiting 18mos for a knee surgery, I got better scheduling a VC sleep study in just 4 months from referral, and I got my wife's sleep study scheduled in under 5 weeks. (the Atlanta VA still hasn't sent the authorization for her colonoscopy after 5 weeks in spite of patient advocacy contacts.)

Response by CPT Brent Ferguson made Aug 4 at 2016 1:42 PM

2016-08-04T13:42:04-04:00

I'm thinking of installing a creek across my driveway.....
"However, in nearly eight months, Dimeco hasn't used his card once. Although the card was designed to provide flexibility in veteran medical care, unless one lives at least 40 miles from a medical center or has a body of water or piece of land blocking their drive, they're not authorized to use it."

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jul 25 at 2019 11:45 PM

2019-07-25T23:45:32-04:00

I had a neurologist appointment scheduled 6 months in advance. They are that hard to get. Unfortunately, a new "fix" ended my authorization to see that specialist about 2 days prior. Not only did it agitate me, but it messed with all the people who were trying to coordinate rides, juggle appointments and balance daycare, school, meds, finances and conflicting schedules. I could go on. Please pass me the crayons.