If you're anything like me, when you want an appointment with your doctor, or any doctor for that matter, you want it sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, we all know that it is usually later than sooner when it comes to getting a VA appointment. The Veterans Choice program was supposed to be the solution to this problem.
In my humble opinion, it has not worked out as well as I'm sure they hope it would. I've heard of individuals complaining about the process, as well as complaining about the lack of response from the employees running the program. I've used it myself and it has proven to be a bit of a challenge. I'm also, getting different information from VA employees on whether I should only see my Choice doctor, or whether I should see my Choice and VA doctors for the same condition. Whew, I tell you I have to take a break from the VA mess some days. It can become so convoluted.
The good thing is that the VA has recognized that this is a problem. Below is a story about an investigation that was conducted on the Choice program by the VA Office of Inspector General, as well as the findings. I'm also providing a link for you to read the entire 45 page report, just in case you're bored or something. Let's hope that this leads to some great changes in the program that will make it much more user friendly.
As always, thank you for your support.
TTYL -Be blessed!!
https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-15-04673-333.pdf
01/29/2017 07:00 PM EST
We conducted this review at the request of Senator Johnny Isakson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, who expressed concerns about the implementation of the Veterans Choice Program (Choice) and the barriers facing veterans trying to access it. Our review focused on whether veterans were experiencing barriers accessing Choice during its first year of implementation. Choice, as part of the Patient Centered Community Care (PC3) Program, provided care for eligible veterans, when the local VHA medical facilities lack available specialists, have long wait times, or are geographically inaccessible. We reviewed monthly reports to identify average wait times for multiple stages of the Choice process, including the authorization of care, scheduling, and the delivery of health care to veterans. We determined several barriers exist in accessing care through Choice, to include cumbersome authorization and scheduling procedures, inadequate provider networks, and potential veteran liability for treatment costs. After being scheduled with a Choice provider, on average the veteran waited about 13 days to receive care. VHA identified approximately 1.2 million instances in which veterans could not receive VHA appointments from November 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. During this period, about 283,500 eligible veterans opted into Choice, and 149,000 of these received an appointment with a Choice provider. We calculated a 13 percent rate of Choice utilization (based on appointments provided compared veteran eligible to receive care). We were unable to determine why the other 87 percent did not access Choice. We recommended the Under Secretary for Health streamline procedures for accessing care, develop accurate forecasts of demand for care in the community, reduce providers’ administrative burdens, ensure veterans are not liable for authorized care, and ensure provider payments are made in a timely manner. The Under Secretary for Health concurred with our findings and recommendations."
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