Hi All,

Johnny is 100% service connected disabled and relies on the VA for health care.  He has rhuematiod arthritis and early stages of diabetes so regular testing is necessary.  We've finally got a great set of VA doctors here in Austin and so will keep home base here for that reason.  We'll figure how to get back here for check ups.

Our question is do any of you use VA services and need regular blood work?  How do you deal with getting that done and results back to your Primary care doctors?  He's just now getting his meds sorted out and down to the short list that works.  We don't want to risk having 6 docs with 6 views on what he needs again!

Help?

We have not gotten out on the road yet, but my husband has monthly and sometimes less often blood work drawn as he takes blood thinner. We have talked with his primary doctor and also lab corp and there doesn't seem to be a problem doing this. Our doctor will write the orders which we will take to the nearest Lab Corp or outpatient hospital lab to have the blood drawn. They will then fax the results to our doctor and he will then call us with the report. It will work just like in the S & B except the doctor's office won't be drawing the blood. He also has an implanted ICD for his heart. In the S&B the doctor's office pulls a report automatically once a month. On the road we will have to find someone with a landline phone who will let us plug in for a minute. It calls an 800 number and only takes a minute. Now, he does get his two name brand medications (we mail order the others from our insurance) from the VA. One of them they will only send 30 days at a time. So, I am a little concerned about staying ahead on that particular medication since it will have to be forwarded to us by our forwarding service. The rest of the meds thru our insurance can be sent directly to us at po-dunk wherever. Anyway, as soon as the S&B sells, we're out of here and we'll work the problems out as they come up. Who knows, his health may get better once we gain our freedom. Hope this helps. Judy (&Bob)

Thanks Judy. That's what we were hoping we could do. We have has some experience with getting meds on the road. Johnny was taking Embrel which comes by FedEx and has to be refridgerated. What we've done in the past is temporarily change the mailing address with the VA. We give them a start and end date for the change and that has worked fine. The other thing we've done is temporarily changed his address to his daughter's and had her forward the meds to us. Here's hoping the house sells quickly and you are on the road soon. Carol

We have just begun working with the VA and at this point do not rely on them for regular visits or meds, but we have noticed VA clinics in many places as we travel, usually with lots of well placed signs.  There must be a list of them out here somewhere.

Mary

I use the VA exclusively right now. I had to have a transfer of records when I was treated in a different VA than I used in the past [my home base]. I will transfer my records back to origin when I return to home base. Everything is on computer and it makes for an easy transfer. I received excellant treatment at the VAs. I have had 90 day meds mailed to me. They may only do 30 days on some meds. Ask for the book "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents" It has the list of all VA facilities listed by state with addresses and Phone #

Johnny says you should be able to walk into any VA outpatient pharmacy and get your refills taken care of. It might not be quick, but it will get done.

Johnny, that's good to hear. Maybe we can do that with my husband's 90 day meds instead of having to have them miled. However, it won't work for his 30 day medication. It is not stocked by the VA and has to be obtained by the VA. It is a special allowance med due to the severity of his congestive heart failure. Thanks and hope all works out for everyone else too. Judy

Dreamers wrote:

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Johnny, that's good to hear. Maybe we can do that with my husband's 90 day meds instead of having to have them miled. However, it won't work for his 30 day medication. It is not stocked by the VA and has to be obtained by the VA. It is a special allowance med due to the severity of his congestive heart failure.

Thanks and hope all works out for everyone else too.

Judy

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Hi Judy,

The other option we have used for those special allowance meds -- Johnny was on Embrel, which was special allowance -- is to have it sent to his daughter's house.  She would then overnight it to us whereever we were.  We just temporarily changed our address to her's with the VA. 

The other thing I would suggest is connecting with your husband's primary care doctor at the VA home base.  They can often make things happen -- like a 90 day supply instead of 30 -- if you explain your situation to them.

I do have to say we've had better luck with that here in Austin than in Louisiana and I have better luck than he does.  I think it's just because I don't let them know I'm frustrated and I can be very persistent!

Good luck and safe travels.
Carol

 

Hi Carol,

Here is the VA online source. http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1 Shows all the locations

Thanks! My DH did have 2 special allowance medications that were on 30 day refill. Our primary VA doctor was able to get one of them changed to 90 day but couldn't get the Crestor changed. So, it is still 30 days but since that one isn't life threatening if he misses a dose or two, I guess we'll manage it as close as we can. It is only life threatening if he doesn't take it on a maintenance program. We were just told last week that his VA primary doctor is being transferred to another facility. So?????? Judy

That's great Judy! Keeping fingers crossed that new primary care doctor is also good. In our experience the new one will likely continue whatever is currently in the system unless there seems to be a reason for changing it or you ask.