Second VA doctor whistle blower, VA admins destroying patient evidence and documents

[Londo_Jowo]

I was under the impression that vets are covered for everything and anything...

I can tell you for a fact even though I'm a veteran I make too much money to use the VA system.

 

[smackababy]

They are for the most part. I was referring to the fake disability claims that pay out 3k plus tax free a month and a host of other benefits.

Here is a link to people complaining about it.
http://disabilityhappens.com/how-where-to-report-va-abuse-and-fraud.html

The complaints are anecdotal at best. In order to get $3,000 a month, you have have been 100% disabled as determined by the VA and have a spouse or at least one dependent.

The amount of times that happens is very few, I'm sure. Especially considering the amount of people I know with real conditions that get incredibly low percentages at first and have to appeal.

 

[dank69]

No. In order to use a VA hospital you have to have at least 30% VA disability. And, what that percentage is seems to be random. A friend of mine was medically discharged after he tore his ACL and MCL while performing some training exercise and like 4 surgeries later still can't run or jog and got 10%. I know another guy who just had "bad knees" and he has 100%. Sleep apnea or narcolepsy is also automatically 50%.


And, for people complaining about the "fraud", servicemen (at least, every single one I've talked with) are highly encouraged to submit a claim if they sustained any injury during service. These are VA representatives that tell members getting out or retiring this.

Weird because my father's apnea was covered 100%

 

[dank69]

I can tell you for a fact even though I'm a veteran I make too much money to use the VA system.

Really? Had no idea there was an income limit.

 

[TerryMathews]

No. In order to use a VA hospital you have to have at least 30% VA disability. And, what that percentage is seems to be random. A friend of mine was medically discharged after he tore his ACL and MCL while performing some training exercise and like 4 surgeries later still can't run or jog and got 10%. I know another guy who just had "bad knees" and he has 100%. Sleep apnea or narcolepsy is also automatically 50%.


And, for people complaining about the "fraud", servicemen (at least, every single one I've talked with) are highly encouraged to submit a claim if they sustained any injury during service. These are VA representatives that tell members getting out or retiring this.

Half-true. You can use VA for primary care if you have service-related disability. There are also conditions that the VA will treat you specifically for if you were exposed in combat, like tinnitus for the artillery guys or the vets that were exposed to Agent Orange.

 

[smackababy]

Weird because my father's apnea was covered 100%

The percentage of disability is simply a determination of how disabled you are by the VA. There is a rate scale, and depending on your percentage of disability (in 10% increments), you get a certain amount, which isn't based on the total payout either. Like, if you are 10%, you don't necessarily get 10% of what someone with 100% does. You have to be, at least, 30% VA disabled to receive access to VA healthcare facilities for free, for life.

If all he had was sleep apnea, he likely receives the 50% and the free health care. But, that is only based on the current disability scale. If he received this before like 5 or so years ago, he could have a completely different amount.

 

[smackababy]

Half-true. You can use VA for primary care if you have service-related disability. There are also conditions that the VA will treat you specifically for if you were exposed in combat, like tinnitus for the artillery guys or the vets that were exposed to Agent Orange.

That wasn't my understand, but it has been about 3 years since I was briefed, and I wasn't particularly paying attention at the time (as I wasn't even going to be filing for VA disability). If might only count for the injuries you filed and been granted and general health care issues aren't covered.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I understand the whole power trip thing and I could see this being a problem in the private sector where profits are king, but I would think this would be like every other government program where the goal is to constantly lobby for bigger budgets. You know the typical scenario where they scramble to make sure they use every penny in this year's budget so it doesn't get cut next year.

The goal may be for bigger budgets and top level agency types that but no one wants to hear how the world really works on the ground. Government or private, you will be crushed and never ever think it's exclusive to private industry. You aren't supposed to know and there is no freedom of expression. It's like whistleblowing protection. Sure it's there and as you try to find another job after being fired and can't get hired and fight an endless legal battle for a decade and maybe get nothing, you can take comfort as you file for bankruptcy that you did the right thing. That's reality that happens. Those in charge cow those under them to prevent bad news from reaching higher, and politicians are at the head of their food chain.

Fear prevents the public from knowing.

As far as the VA being "get anything you need" I had a someone pay almost $200 for eye drops who was having eye surgery. Yes he could have had them, but it would have been two weeks too late. Having benefits that aren't timely or available isn't useful. You never heard this though, did you? Of course not.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Half-true. You can use VA for primary care if you have service-related disability. There are also conditions that the VA will treat you specifically for if you were exposed in combat, like tinnitus for the artillery guys or the vets that were exposed to Agent Orange.

I know a guy who served as an forward observer in Vietnam. He did more than one tour and you probably know that the life expectancy wasn't all that great. No Purple Heart, but he was blown off his feet by mortar fire a few times and took a beating which laid him up in the hospital. He never fully recovered and for the last couple decades his spine has been crumbling as a result. Thing is he can't prove it was service related. Out of luck.

 

[Slew Foot]

The VA makes some pretty damn good fried chicken, stuff is fan-freaking-tastic. Probably kill you after a year, but damn, good stuff.

 

[Ns1]

nice email!

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Cheyenne_Email_Redacted.pdf

 

[theeedude]

We need to end the ridiculous sequester once and for all.

 

[compuwiz1]

Looks like another scandal for the democrats. Guess which party the secretary of veterans affairs affiliates himself with. Couldn't help but notice. EVERYONE should be mad about this, however.

We need to end the ridiculous sequester once and for all.

Evil deeds and dereliction of duty have nothing to do with the sequester.

Obama shows no particular love for veterans or our military. Sorry to go there, but again, politics cause deaths.

 

[Exterous]

Ding ding ding. http://m.washingtonpost.com/politic...745750-d0af-11e3-9e25-188ebe1fa93b_story.html

Uh - were they paying out bonuses to people who were doing this before now?

Their legislation would block bonuses for individual federal workers who have broken the law, violated agency policy or are tax delinquents.

 

[waggy]

nice email!

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Cheyenne_Email_Redacted.pdf

damn.

 

[Mursilis]

I can tell you for a fact even though I'm a veteran I make too much money to use the VA system.

If you have a service-connected disability, income is irrelevant; you are entitled to treatment for it. If your rating is high enough, you're entitled to treatment for nonservice-connected disabilities as well, regardless of income.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

damn.

I'm not sure what you mean.

 

[Pulsar]

I'm not sure what you mean.

Yeah - there's nothing remarkable about that email, and I don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[TerryMathews]

Yeah - there's nothing remarkable about that email, and I don't see anything wrong with it.

How can you not? They're saying they adjust the desired date of service according to the doctor's availability in order to maintain the 14 day window.

An example.

-Patient says I need to see Dr. TerryMathews on May 20.
-Receptionist looks up availability and sees first available is June 6 (17 days)
-Receptionist enters desired date of service as May 23, books appointment for June 6 (14 days).

 

[dank69]

How can you not? They're saying they adjust the desired date of service according to the doctor's availability in order to maintain the 14 day window.

An example.

-Patient says I need to see Dr. TerryMathews on May 20.
-Receptionist looks up availability and sees first available is June 6 (17 days)
-Receptionist enters desired date of service as May 23, books appointment for June 6 (14 days).

Who gets to dictate when they get to see their doctor? Nobody. You call to ask when they are available.

 

[WackyDan]

Trying to understand what possible motive anyone would have for concealing the fact that they are understaffed. Only thing I can come up with is that someone is getting bonuses for keeping costs low.

Metrics for the sake of metrics. It is how they are measured. You see this in corp environments all the time... The difference there is that it doesn't take long for falsifying metrics to become evident.

 

[DCal430]

Who gets to dictate when they get to see their doctor? Nobody. You call to ask when they are available.

They are putting false information onto official documents, they are falsifying wait times. Sad you don't see something wrong with this.

 

[TerryMathews]

Who gets to dictate when they get to see their doctor? Nobody. You call to ask when they are available.

The idea behind the metric is that it is supposed to capture when they need to add staffing to the VA system.

Cheating the metric makes it appear that nothing is wrong.

 

[dank69]

The idea behind the metric is that it is supposed to capture when they need to add staffing to the VA system.

Cheating the metric makes it appear that nothing is wrong.

Well that is understandable but that context wasn't available in the link.

 

[TerryMathews]

Well that is understandable but that context wasn't available in the link.

True. You have to have some experience with the VA system to understand what an issue this is.

They're saying you didn't wait as long as you really did.

That email goes hand in hand with this story: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/