Has anybody been successfully treated through the VA Choice Progam?

5/19/15 Sit Rep: This afternoon I called the VA Choice Program and learned that today [20 days after it was submitted by VA Choice Program to VA] the VA Choice Program had received approval for my case to go forward to schedule an appointment. I hoped I could do it then. I was told that an inter office email would be sent to whomever was required to schedule an appointment. I was told that if I did not hear from them within a week to call back.
Good news is that I did receive the promised temporary VA Choice Program card within the 14 days.
I hope I will be able to schedule an appointment within the next couple of weeks.
Sgt Richard Buckner, PO2 William Allen Crowder, SPC Bill Smith, SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT

Update, VA formal communication process can be demoralizing. On April 23 I received a card informing me that my dermatology appointment was scheduled for May 1 per original schedule. I checked the MyHealtheVet website and the appointment was listed. I figured the doctors schedule was rearranged and I wouldn't need to go through the VA Choice Program. I started making plans to drive to the appointment this Friday, etc. On a hunch, I checked the MyHealtheVet website this morning and learned that my appointment had been cancelled and rescheduled for July IAW my phone conversation 11 days ago.
To put it mildly, I was frustrated at the update process which took weeks to post an appointment [after it had been cancelled] and then cancel it several days later. I am thankful for the VA POC who called me and informed me to wait 10 working days before contacting the VA Choice Program. I now realize that 10 working days is probably the standard administrative lead time between data entry and system ready to accept updates. I don't know what that full lead time will be for me to see a doctor; but, I expect it will be more than 10 days.

I Hurd about it it has come from Washington DC I got a call from the VA about the same thing not sure if it’s a good thing or not.

Yes, once I moved out to the country after my heart attack and subsequent CABG surgery at the Dallas VA they started referring me for community care. My urologist has a system that is integrated with the VA so I don't have to fill out a small phone book when I go for my visits.
My eye Dr treated me like a cash register. First I had to fill out a DFW phone book sized information packet, like I remember what surgery I had in the 60's. But then they said, "this machine does a better job of examining you eyes and you won't need to have them dilated, it will be $75 extra", I said no, then they diagnosed me with dry eye syndrome and said they had eye drops that would fix it for just $25 extra, again they said the VA won't pay for it. I said no, sent my Dr the information and she sent me some that has worked great.

So with the CC system you may run into bad actors such as this situation.

I think it's Collum group in Texarkana that is excellent. They can tap into all of my records as well as order my drugs from the VA. But two of the drugs they tried to order me were not in the VA formulary. One wasa generic which I was able to get from Mark Cuban cost plus drugs. With a 90 day supply at $9.50 plus shipping, it cost me the same as a 90 day supply from the VA $15 is ny copay for generic 90 day supply. $8 for a one month supply, $11 for a name brand drug. My sister is on the same drug as I am and her copay is $90 for this drug, so I can't be unhappy with $11

Why is this 10-year-old post come back to haunt us to push to privatization of the VA even further?

There are no Out of Pocket payments. It is the same as going to your regular VA doctors without the delays and headaches of the VA facilities. I have used it for multiple DR appointments with great success across the board.

When the choice program first started, I try to get involved in that and I was denied because of the way the crow flies is what they told me from Tammy Baldwin
Rules must’ve changed I work very hard to try to get in that program again and succeeded because I live over an hour away from the VA clinic
My first Provider got burnt out after a couple years and left. Now I just was notified. that my current provider is moving away and I like this one