Using VA card?

[Bill2]

Originally Posted by DoC808

I have used the VA Choice Card several times for a chiropractor. Never spoke to my regular doctor I just called the number and told him I wanted to see a chiropractor and they gave me an appointment with a doctor that I chose when I get back I'm going to go to acupuncture.

Wow, didn’t know you could use acupuncture or just call choice thought you had to be referred by your physician for choice

[jdoc]

I had to get my VA doc to submit the paperwork. Everything got approved and the Ortho Doc that I am seeing now is great.

Jerry

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Bill2

Wow, didn’t know you could use acupuncture or just call choice thought you had to be referred by your physician for choice

I had to be referred by my VA PMC Doc and then CHOICE contacted me to schedule first appointment.

And that authorization number had expiration date, specific number of visits etc.
It had to be extended due to post surgery care...which Ortho Doc and CHOICE worked out.
Then Ortho Doc had to request PT...CHOICE had to approve/authorize and schedule first appointment.
Authorization was set for specific time frame, visits.
Needed it extended...I talked with CHOICE, Rehab center talked with CHOICE----took 3 weeks to get an extended round of PT during which time NO PT was preformed due to 'Big Fish/Little Pond' syndrome



So I am confused that one could JUST CALL and CHOICE would approve>


We are talking about TRI-WEST CHOICE program and not TRICARE---correct?

[DoC808]

Yep I'm in Tricare West, once I got approved for the choice card I didn't have to get anything approved from my provider. They did give me a limit on each appointment they made. They gave me 11 sessions with a chiropractor and 11 sessions with a acupuncture. But this is because those Services were not available on Island. It was just a simple phone call

And for me to extend it, I just needed approval for my chiropractor itself. Choice called the chiropractor the chiropractor said I needed more sessions and they added another 11 sessions. It was too easy

If my provider had anything to do with it, it was transparent to me.

[skypilot_1]

A chiropractor that said you needed more sessions...imagine that

[DoC808]

Originally Posted by skypilot_1

A chiropractor that said you needed more sessions...imagine that

I know. I did find that amusing too. But he helped.