My father has been on Oxygen for 10+ years now and was prescribed O2 by a VA doctor. Last year after a VA Nurse practitioner prescribed him the wrong medicine he nearly died 4 seperate times and his lungs failed and was put on life support twice. He has been doing great the last 4 months just not as energetic as he used to be.
We recieved a letter from the VA that we need to supply information that he still needs to be on oxygen. We went to his primary doctor outside of the VA as we do not trust go their for his medical needs anymore. He wrote a ltter and a prescription stating why he needs to be on O2 and how much.
We give it to the nurse of his so called VA doctor and they will not accept it and we do not know what else to do as we have until the 28th of February to get this taken care of.
Does anyone have any suggestions because I do not want my father to end back up in the hospital!!!!!
All the information is not being presented. For example, "they will not accept it". What won't they accept, and why? Is it the diagnosis or is it a non-VA/non-CHAMPVA doctor? Did you use a doctor without VA authorization first? Is it something seemingly simple but actually complicated like the wrong (or incompatible) diagnosis codes?
Both my Dad and my husband are in the V.A. healthcare system and based upon the info you provided only your Dad's primary healthcare provider within the V.A. healthcare system can authorize the consult for the oxygen. From my experience the V.A. will not accept outside (civilian) practitioners prescriptions or consults.
I would advice making an appointment with his V.A. primary and request a consult for more oxygen, this can probably all be done via phone if urgency is needed. If not take him to the V.A. emergency room if it is a true emergency. I have always have wonderful luck with out V.A. here in New Mexico...
All the rambling and autonomy aside; my advice to you is contact your nearest Veteran's Service Officer (VSO) with the military fraternal organization of your choosing. I personally recommend the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Just like the tax code, there's too much mumbo-jumbo in the VA compensation & pension system to know it all.
They exist for one purpose, to represent all HONORABLY separated service members.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: JCreighton,
There are several things that has been left out. What is his priority group at the VA? If he is Priority Group 5 or above he should not have any problem receiving his Oxygen for free or low cost. If he been receiving it at one point he still should be able to continue it unless they changed his priority group.
You can speak to a VSO from the DAV or any other service organization or to Enrollment director at the VA. It is best to ask the VA directly and if you feel that you need an advocate contact your VSO.
I know this is an old topic, but the VA in most cities have good Pulmonary doctors. I have a top one who happens to chair the department at the University. Their are standards for both the VA and Medicare (and private insurance) to prescribe O2. A six minute walk is usually used to determine if the patient desaturates with and without O2, and determine the level of O2. Do not worry, he he can not walk the full distance, they will let him stop. I hope you let the VA treat your father so that he continues to receive his O2 via the VA. If not, you are going to have to find another way to pay for it. The VA is real strict about requiring a VA doctor to issue all prescriptions and orders.
