Posted on Sep 24, 2015
Veterans with chronic pain: The VA has decided that Vets don't need pain medication. Can the VA refuse to give a Veteran needed medication?
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I was recently informed by my VA provider, through a nurse, and over the telephone, that the pain medication that I have been taking for the last four years will be tapered, and then taken away due to a new VA directive. I have severe pain due to knee, and back problems (even with the medication), that the VA has been aware of for over 10 years, and that they have taken no other action on, until now. I am in the process of planning surgery for a total knee replacement, but that it is still a few months away. This seems to be a blanket action by the VA which in no way takes into to account the individual Veteran, or his / her level of pain. Does anyone know if there is any type of action that I can take to hold off this action, or appeal the decision?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/veterans-struggle-to-renew-their-prescriptions-amid-new-opioid-rules/2015/02/18/4d42d63a-acb3-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/veterans-struggle-to-renew-their-prescriptions-amid-new-opioid-rules/2015/02/18/4d42d63a-acb3-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Medical
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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I have to have Blood work done every 6 months just before I go to my bi-annual appointment so Doc knows I don't abuse what I have. I have never taken my pain meds as prescribed. I deal with the pain as much as I can because I HATE pain meds. My Doc knows this as it took almost 4 years before I'd let her give me anything stronger than Gabapentin. Now all I have to do for my Hydro is call. Even though technically she's supposed to see me before giving me a refill. Just before they changed the rules, I had 4 refills at one time. Supposed to take 2 a day. 60 tabs per. They lasted me almost 3 years. Problem now is I am having to actually take them closer to the way they were prescribed and I HATE IT!
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PVT Robert Gresham
SSG John Mitchell, yes I am required to do the same. I also take my medication (methadone) as needed, and have had several refills in my cabinet. I try to keep things down to minimal, but there are many days when the pain is severe. My only concern is with some VA providers having a blanket policy of "you don't need it".
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I was just given a copy of the VA's current protocol on the dispensing of opioids and barbiturates. I cant find it right at the moment but if your primary care DR is following the directive and you still have pain you believes interferes with your life ask to be referred to a pain specialist. Additionally get an appointment with the patient advocate and discuss what is happening and have them help find a solution.
Oh my wife dropped my copy of the protocol with a hospitalized friend this am
Oh my wife dropped my copy of the protocol with a hospitalized friend this am
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PVT Robert Gresham
SPC George Long Thank you for the recommendations !! I tried to find the protocol online, but the most recent thing I found was, "VA Patterns of Dispensing Take-Home Opioids and Monitoring Patients on Opioid Therapy", from May 2014. I am sure that something has changed since then. If you can guide me to getting a copy of that protocol I would be very grateful.
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SPC George Long
PVT Robert Gresham - IT is my understanding you just ask for it. Plus its supposed to be available in all clinics, I don't know I'm terminal and on home care. Ask your VSO to get you a copy.....I'll keep thinkin on it.
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VA has been doing this. My compounded cream that keeps my back from taking over my life now has two ingredients that VA/Tricare won't cover so if I want to live a tolerable life, I now have to chip in $110 to keep the pain down. Recall I reported it on RP a couple months ago but didn't see any traction.
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PVT Robert Gresham
I think that it's sad that the VA cares so little about our quality of life. They would rather see Vets suffer than do the right thing. I wish that they would offer me the choice of going to another physician, but he / she would also be bound by the VA's unbelievably short-sided directive on this matter. SNAFU !!
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SP5 Paul Hensler
My monthly for adequate pain management outside the VA is$150/office visit and about $270 for 2 meds. There is no dollar value able to cover the 24/7 pain.
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I’m just done. I’m going to just let nature take it’s course and just stop receiving medical care. My second COVID vaccination is scheduled this month, but I’m not going. I have no quality of life and I don’t plan on finishing it off in agony. I’ve knocked on too many doors and walking away from the anger and bitterness this has caused me.
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And if you haven't used anesthesiology/pain mgmt as a specialty yet, trust me, use it, that's explicitly why it exists, precisely for stuff like you're describing, honest, OK?
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http://www.vetadvocates.org
This group, NOVA, saved us, we transferred our whole thing for total perm disability for me from one one the vet groups to one of their guys...the vet groups are good, truly, we know that, as are law school vet law clinics...however, for something like this, you might well need to file a claim with VA, which would obv be under the VA regional ofc (VARO) near you...that'll mean notices of disagreement (NODs), decision review officers (DROs), more NODs, filing with the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), waiting to see one of their judges...we did it all, six and a half yrs of it, thank God we didn't have to go to the Court of Appeals of Veteran Claims (CAVC), or higher into the Federal courts...our consult to our NOVA guy was $500, the best money we ever spent, he'd done 3 yrs active himself, and 35-40 yrs of VA-disability law, he knew more about it than God, and got us pro-bono help from another major law firm near him and us, one of their two attorneys assigned to us went with us with him to see one of the BVA traveling team judges...I know free is good, I get that, however, we learned that NOVA is pretty much among the top of the food chain for VA-disability law in the US, they have a good search engine, you can also call their main ofc, as well...trust me, and look for who they have near you, OK? If you wanna yak more, no rush, whenever you want, just lemme know, OK?
This group, NOVA, saved us, we transferred our whole thing for total perm disability for me from one one the vet groups to one of their guys...the vet groups are good, truly, we know that, as are law school vet law clinics...however, for something like this, you might well need to file a claim with VA, which would obv be under the VA regional ofc (VARO) near you...that'll mean notices of disagreement (NODs), decision review officers (DROs), more NODs, filing with the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), waiting to see one of their judges...we did it all, six and a half yrs of it, thank God we didn't have to go to the Court of Appeals of Veteran Claims (CAVC), or higher into the Federal courts...our consult to our NOVA guy was $500, the best money we ever spent, he'd done 3 yrs active himself, and 35-40 yrs of VA-disability law, he knew more about it than God, and got us pro-bono help from another major law firm near him and us, one of their two attorneys assigned to us went with us with him to see one of the BVA traveling team judges...I know free is good, I get that, however, we learned that NOVA is pretty much among the top of the food chain for VA-disability law in the US, they have a good search engine, you can also call their main ofc, as well...trust me, and look for who they have near you, OK? If you wanna yak more, no rush, whenever you want, just lemme know, OK?
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My face is reconstructed, my neck is fused, my low back is fused, my legs are in pain, I had 4 surgeries on my knees, I have migraines...the only medications I get is Lunesta, Clonazepam. I suffer daily, but I have a 8 and 9 year olds that still think I am superman...so Superman it is. However, I am sorry for you brother, keep you head up.
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You can always get a second opinion. The VA hasn't decided that vets don't need pain meds, what they have decided is they don't want vets to needlessly get addicted to pain medication. If the doctor prescribes the pain medication you can still get it. You cant force a doctor to prescribe a pain medication though. Some meds are no longer available through the VA. There is no requirement that the VA pharmacy, or any government or private pharmacy for that matter, carry every medication available.
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PVT Robert Gresham
So basically a doctor who's been giving a Vet the same medication for chronic pain for years, can just decide on whim, a personal change of thought, or DEA getting a wild hair up their ass, to take it away and that should be okay? Because that is exactly what is happening.
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CW3 Stephen Mills
I think SGT Gus Laskaris's response answers your question.
"A physician can practice medicine as he sees fit and can refuse to give medication if he thinks its' unnecessary. Hospitals can create guidelines but in the end it's not their decision. Apparently this is just one less reason to work at the VA. Bureaucrats dictating treatment is intolerable in my mind.
I don't let the hospital pressure me . Of course, in the civilian world they want us to prescribed narcotics.
Unfortunately the DEA and CDC are correct. Prescription narcotics are horribly misused and over-prescribed. Their use is not even indicated for most pain and can actually make pain worse in the long run.
Many patients think they still have pain but in reality, it is addiction to these medications. On the other hand people who need them need them and it's a shame they have to pay for the excesses of others."
"A physician can practice medicine as he sees fit and can refuse to give medication if he thinks its' unnecessary. Hospitals can create guidelines but in the end it's not their decision. Apparently this is just one less reason to work at the VA. Bureaucrats dictating treatment is intolerable in my mind.
I don't let the hospital pressure me . Of course, in the civilian world they want us to prescribed narcotics.
Unfortunately the DEA and CDC are correct. Prescription narcotics are horribly misused and over-prescribed. Their use is not even indicated for most pain and can actually make pain worse in the long run.
Many patients think they still have pain but in reality, it is addiction to these medications. On the other hand people who need them need them and it's a shame they have to pay for the excesses of others."
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