Posted on Apr 17, 2015
Has anybody been successfully treated through the VA Choice Progam?
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Today, I received a phone call from the VA Medical Center which provides most of my treatment. I had a appointment scheduled for early next month and the doctor is now unavailable with the next available appointment in July. I live roughly 40 miles away from a few VA facilities.
The POC suggested I call VA's Choice Program, after waiting two weeks to allow the system to process the requirement, to coordinate an appointment with a local doctor who would be paid through the VA. Then I need to call the POC back and cancel the July appointment.
Right now I receive all of my medical care free through the VA Medical Center system.
I am curious to see if anybody else has gone through this program and what the results were including out of pocket payments.
The POC suggested I call VA's Choice Program, after waiting two weeks to allow the system to process the requirement, to coordinate an appointment with a local doctor who would be paid through the VA. Then I need to call the POC back and cancel the July appointment.
Right now I receive all of my medical care free through the VA Medical Center system.
I am curious to see if anybody else has gone through this program and what the results were including out of pocket payments.
Posted in these groups: 
Disabled Veterans
Transition
Disabled Veterans Transition
Edited 9 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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The VA system is broke and needs a complete overhaul top down.
The Choice card is an example of the government wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on a do nothing program. they claim as correcting VAs backload problems by issuing out "Choice" cards to make sure veterans are seen in a timely manner.
in order to use my card I have to have prior VA approval.
I have used the VA fee based which sends me to the local hospital for specialized treatment
The Choice card is an example of the government wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on a do nothing program. they claim as correcting VAs backload problems by issuing out "Choice" cards to make sure veterans are seen in a timely manner.
in order to use my card I have to have prior VA approval.
I have used the VA fee based which sends me to the local hospital for specialized treatment
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LTC Stephen F.
SGM David, thanks for letting me know. The VA POC told me to wait for 10 days to allow the system to recognize my requirement and mentioned nothing about getting a Choice account. I hope the program has had many of the problems worked out since you used it for me and anybody else who could benefit from it. I hope my VA Disability Card will be sufficient for the local doctor. I will post what happens after I go through the various steps of this program.
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I called the program and they told me that I live within the 40 mile limit by way of the crows flight. I actually live more than 50 miles from the nearest VA med center. Talk about a load of crap! I have been asking for the right care for over 5 years now and was so happy to see this choice card come along but once I get my hopes squashed! So as far as I'm concerned, until they get their crap figured out, I don't want anything to do with them! I have to go and pay for care out of my own pocket just to get the right care! How fair is that to anyone that put their life on the line. I know that I'm just one person that gets treated like this and it breaks my heart to see those that are much worse then me to get the same treatment!
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LTC Stephen F.
Bill I learned that the VA has recently changed the rules for mileage calculations from straight line [as the crow flies] to actual road distance. This applies to both the VA Choice Program and for mileage reimbursement. To be honest, I thought mileage reimbursement was based on road distance not straight line distance.
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AN William Greenlee
Actually Congress changed the LAW and it states they must calculate mileage from the veterans physical address. This was changed back in 2015 April. The VA/NON-VA Healthcare seems not to realize that so I would recommend calling the VA White House line and trust me action will be taken
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Yesterday morning I went to my 2nd dermatology appointment arranged through the VA Choice Program. The dermatology doctor and staff are pleasant and professional. Today I had about 10 areas of Actinic Keratosis frozen on my legs and neck and then a suspected basal cell carcinoma shaved off with a biopsy taken from my upper left arm. Over the years I have probably had 50 Actinic Keratosis areas frozen off me. The stinging pain is a refreshing change from the drudgery of my more constant back and post-herpetic neuralgia pains. The biopsy results are expected back within 2 weeks. I am tired but thankful. I prayed for wisdom and eyes to see for the doctor and am confident that God answered yes in this case.
On my second appointment, the in-processing worked very well. Hopefully this is positive sign that the VA.
[2015-06-13 edit - Updated 6 to 10 frozen areas based on casual count] Sgt Richard Buckner, SPC (Join to see), SGT Rick Ash, PO2 William Allen Crowder,
On my second appointment, the in-processing worked very well. Hopefully this is positive sign that the VA.
[2015-06-13 edit - Updated 6 to 10 frozen areas based on casual count] Sgt Richard Buckner, SPC (Join to see), SGT Rick Ash, PO2 William Allen Crowder,
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you Sgt Richard Buckner. God's timing is always perfect. My timling rarely matches God's timing.
The dermatology appointments went well with no indication of cancer.
The dermatology appointments went well with no indication of cancer.
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