Has anybody been successfully treated through the VA Choice Progam?

I live literally a block from my local VA clinic. I have always been treated with respect and in a timely fashion.
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I have needed to go to the local hospital for emergency care a number of times ( I am a Cancer patient ) and with one phone call, it was approved 100 % no cost to me.
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The VA has it's issues, I will give you that, however, without exception since my involvement with VA medical care, I only see ONE.
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My only issue is Dental Care . .. I just can't wrap my head around how a person can ELECT to get a Gender Transition and be approved for a cost of $ MILLIONS $ of dollars over their lifetime, and I can't get Dental Care !!!!!!
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SEMPER FI BROTHERS

When the CHOICE program first started I had to get farmed out. We did not have a competent specialists at my facility. Things went well except that scheduling kept refusing it. Come to find out that nobody informed them of the CHOICE program. That's the VA. Once they got on board, I had no other problems with the CHOICE consults. I live near a VA & used to work there. The problem has been lack of specialists. When I put under claims under the PACT act, I was sent to outside specialists for my claims. I was given ratings in 2 weeks.

4/30/15 Sit Rep: Per instructions, this afternoon I called the VA Choice Program and was registered into the system. I provided verifying info and then went through the registration process - I was interested that the Choice program had my old address [AKO, MilConnect, VA, etc had already been updated last year. I was told it would take 14 days to get my new card - appointments require VA confirmation.
After confirming that I had appointment well beyond 30 days which justified use of the Choice Program, dermatology was confirmed and I gave a basic description of issues. After selecting a doctor who is in their network and explaining what time of day was best for me, I was told it would take 5 days for the information to be processed. After that I would be called by a Choice Program rep to coordinate an appointment.
I am hopeful that this process will provide quality care, copies of my records, and prescriptions through the VAMC network - my usual source.
Sgt Richard Buckner, PO2 William Allen Crowder, SPC Bill Smith, SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT

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!

LTC Stephen, I've used Community Care through the VA for at least 6 years, most recently for two back operations, a kidney stone removal, chiropractic care, Urology to monitor for kidney stones, pain management for lower back pain in which I received an epideral to relieve the pain (this was between my two back operations), anual dental check-ups. Initially I was approved to have 6 crowns replaced. And now I have an upcoming colonoscopy through Community Care. All of these appointments were 100% paid for by the VA. As long as you have a copy of the VA Authorization letter you should be good to go. This letter is usually sent to the Dr of your choice as well. All you need to do is call Community Care to let them know what date you have the appointment. I've also had to go to the emergency room on three or four differant occasions and the only requirement if you do that is to call the community care 72-hour hotline to report that you went to the emergency room, the date and time, and the reason for the visit. If you tell the emergency room the VA will cover the bill, they will bill the VA. If you have any issues with them not paying, call the community care and ask for a VA Authorization number for that visit and provide that number to the billing agency and they'll take care of it. The Community Care system is a great service to veterans, as you are able to get care more quickly in a lot of cases than if you wait for a VA specialist. If you have any questions or if I can be of further assitance, feel free to e-mail me at [login to see] . Sincerely Keith Hennek, retired CMSgt USAF

No. They told me I didn’t qualify

Was able to get chiropractic care outside of the VA. Closer to me than driving the the VA facility.

I was told I was not qualified

06-03-2015 Sit Rep. Today I went to the dermatology appointment approved by VA and coordinated by the VA Choice Program. When I checked in I learned that my paperwork had not been sent over yet -despite being approved weeks ago. The Dr office called VA Choice and I spoke with the VA Choice Program POC and made sure they understood I expected them to meet the requirement - they gave a phone approval. I learned that another vet came 1 month earlier and had to pay the full cost because VA Choice did not approve it.
My appointment went well, I got prescriptions for a year for my dermatology meds. I also got another appointment for a whole body exam - expect includes burning off problem areas, biopsy if necessary.
The Doctors office is required to send my diagnosis results, etc to VA Choice program. I provided the fax number to my VA primary care physician so that she has copies of the doctors results.
Sgt Richard Buckner, PO2 William Allen Crowder, SPC Bill Smith, SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT

05-27-2015 Sit Rep. Today I called the VA Choice Program and now have a my first scheduled dermatology appointment next Wednesday June 3. It has taken since April 30 for the VA Choice Program process to fully engage for me. I was told that I am authorized up to six appointments and that biopsy and results are included in covered services. The contracted doctors interact with VA Choice Program not with the VA Medical services side. Therefore I will need to coordinate with the dermatologist to get copies of the diagnosis, biopsy results, etc over to the VA. I plan on testing the MyHealtheVet system to add the Dermatologist to the network for sharing information to my VA doctors. I plan on updating this question thread with the results of my system tests as they occur.
Sgt Richard Buckner, PO2 William Allen Crowder, SPC Bill Smith, SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT