VA medical treatment concerns - HELP

[BlasterBob]

Since I am currently on my fourth cancer (bladder this time), last month, I had to travel about 100 miles from Peoria, to Danville, IL for a CATscan, chest X-ray, ultrasound and a Cystoscopy. Had the tests OK except the CATscan which was down for broken parts. So, VA arranged for me to go to a hospital in Danville that same day and they did the CATscan. I was assured the bill for the complete procedure would be sent directly to the VA for payment and I shouldn't have to be concerned about it. Today, I received a bill for $289 for that procedure. Now wondering if any other Vets, on the board, had any problems like this and if so, how was it settled. Oh, this was not handled with the CHOICE plan. Thanks.

[BushMasterBoy]

I got billed under the Choice Program. I called the provider, they said unless I get another bill, don't worry about it. Call the provider and the VA and make sure there is no misunderstanding.

[Martinjmpr]

Sometimes providers will send bills out to anyone who could conceivably be responsible for the treatment. I think they do this to preserve their right to collect payment later on if the primary insurer can't or won't pay.

My younger brother (46) is severely mentally disabled and has to live in a nursing home, and since he can't work he is on Medicaid. My mother is his guardian and when we switched facilities, they immediately sent her a $5k+ bill for his treatment. When she called to discuss it the billing clerk told her she could disregard it as they had already arranged payment through Medicaid, so I think this is just something that happens. If you get a 2nd bill or a notice that it's going to collections, then I'd worry.

Let me also take the time to wish you good fortune in your treatment.

[Scanker19]

I'd take it to the choice people at the main hospital if you can, or call them and see what the issue is. My current pain with the VA involves the choice program people as well. Was told I don't qualify for the 40mile exemption because "according to Bing maps" I live 37.5 miles away. Yet my travel vouchers pay me for traveling 42.5 miles.

Talk to your patient advocate about it. Try to find the one that handles congressional inquiries as they might have more knowledge into it that the regular patient advocate.

[Scanker19]

Do they not run your Choice through Tricare? Or is that who isn't paying soon enough?

[StagLefty]

Best of luck with your treatments Bob !!!

[BlasterBob]

I'd take it to the choice people at the main hospital if you can, or call them and see what the issue is. My current pain with the VA involves the choice program people as well. Was told I don't qualify for the 40mile exemption because "according to Bing maps" I live 37.5 miles away. Yet my travel vouchers pay me for traveling 42.5 miles.

Talk to your patient advocate about it. Try to find the one that handles congressional inquiries as they might have more knowledge into it that the regular patient advocate.

I wonder how the 40 mile range is firgured - street/road miles or AIR miles?
The people handling the non-VA accounts are to call me this coming Monday. Thanks Jordan.

[BlasterBob]

It will be handled. I go to the VA quite frequently. Sometimes they send me to private doctors. This is not choice plan, just regular stuff the VA out sources. A few months a go I severed my finger tip and had to go to a civilian ER. They sent me a bill too. I called the VA billing department (which was in Montana for this area) and they said they already paid the doctors portion, but the hospital misbilled it so they sent it back and would pay it as soon as they corrected the info. I called later that month and it was all paid.

I would say, dont worry too much about it. It may take a little while but it will be covered.

Now for the choice program... We were going to move to southeast Colorado. I talked to the VA in Lamar. They said NOBODY would take the choice card. I called around to confirm at different clinics and hospitals. I guess the VA is taking from 6 months out past a year to pay, so the private guys are saying NO now.

Wonder which major VA hospital they will want you to visit if Choice, for some reason, does not work for you in Lamar? The VA hospital down in Albuquerque worked out real well for me even though I lived in Colorado (Trinidad, CO). The Dermotology Doc they sent me to on the Choice program, here in Illinois, told me that they are receiving payments for their procedures performed in March so apparently Choice is now catching up paying. Thanks!

[BlasterBob]

Best of luck with your treatments Bob !!!

Hey, thanks for the wishing of good luck with the cancer treatments. Although those treatments really sound nasty, they weren't bad at all. Just consisted of being catheterized on eight successive Fridays to have the Tuberculosis bacteria or virus instilled directly into the bladder via a hose. I do know that I would NOT want a real attractive female nurse performing this procedure because even though I am going on 81, I still have ample feeling in the old peewee department.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Good luck with your cancer treatments. I hated seeing my father go through them and my godmother opted to not treat her cancer when it rose up again. I feel fortunate that I have alternatives to the VA.