Community Forums

Old-Biscuit · 12-04-2015, 01:21 AM

I traveled FT for 7 yrs. Primary thru VA Hospital in Sioux Falls SD. Great hospital/people/care. Primary understood I was FT RVr and wrote Rx for 90 days with 4 refills. Refills done thru 'myhealthevet' on-line. Mailed to 'home' address (mail forwarding service) and then sent to me where ever I am.

Have used 5 different VA Hospitals during the 7 yrs.
Sioux Falls, SD; Gainesville, FL; Dublin, GA; El Paso, TX; Sacramento, CA
Went to 'Eligibility Office' showed them my VA Med ID Card. They put in their system and I went to 'sick call' , walk in clinic OR ER.

Thank you VA Medical. Don't have to mess with Obamacare. Have been treated fairly and have had good medical care.

Now no longer FT travel. Resident in AZ so use Prescott VA. It's good but Sioux Falls, SD and Dublin, GA were best experiences. The CBOC in Cottonwood is lousy hence the reason I use Prescott.

Talk to 'Patient Advocate' (every Hospital has at least one).
Issues/concerns get handled when you get 'Advocate' involved.

maxjr758 · 05-01-2016, 11:00 PM

My VA! and I say that proudly, is the Charles Gorge VA MEDICAL CENTER in Asheville, NC! This month marks two years I have been receiving top notch care ! After my initial exam I was set at 70% disability! About 1 year later I was reevaluated, and bumped to 100% last Sept.

Poppy01 · 05-06-2016, 02:57 PM

I've been using Puget Sound VA (Seattle) for 10+ years. They handle all my meds and rarely have a problem. Most meds are 90-day supply. My controlled meds are 30-day supply, but I can call in to renew. The biggest hassle is that I have to see my doc quarterly and pee test once a year. If I'm going to be out of town, I can secure message out of MyHealtheVet and I usually get an answer within 48 hours. I really can't complain. Most of the people working there are great. They are quick to recommend Veteran's Choice if they can't get you an appointment w/in 30 days or if you need ongoing care (i.e., Physical Therapy) and you have to drive very far. I'm staying with the VA!

DakotaSatch · 05-06-2016, 11:16 PM

I am retired National Guard. I spent the winter in Tucson. Went to the Air Forse base. Any Meds I or my wife needed we got at no charge. Now if you go to a Va clinic that's is another story. VA is a government agency (or should I say socialistic) Check it out

Roadmagic · 06-13-2016, 07:26 AM

As someone else here said (I'm new here so don't know how to post properly yet) the Myhealthevet online service is really EXCELLENT! I use it all the time, though until now my address has been stable so I don't know how changing addresses will affect it, not much I think as long as you remember to change it. But to all those who are having to start all over with new service, forget that--you only need to show up once a year somewhere to get meds renewed, then you go online and re-order the rest. Also, you can communicate with your doctor via the "secure messaging" system on Myhealhevet. Also, your records are available to non-VA doctors though this system. It has saved me many trips to the VA.

City to City · 10-10-2016, 12:38 PM

about VA prescriptions:
Husband doc also writes them for 30 days, what a pain going into the healthyvet every month and place an order, no to mention the increased mailing cost for teh VA who could use the saved money for care. Called the pharmacy and asked about getting scripts converted to 90 days, they said that is up to the doc and they should write the scripts like that. So I will contact the Prescriber via SECURE message and have them change the scripts to 90 days.
When you're ready to refill instead of ordering online just call the Homebase VA Pharmacy and place the order with the CURRENT travel address.

As for scripts thru Tricare:
Always get them written for 90 days with 3 refills. Call Express Script's 800 # to call in refill and Travel Mailing address.

Poppy01 · 10-11-2016, 07:39 AM

Depending on the type of medication, the VA may be restricted by law to 30 days. Most of my meds are dispensed for 90 days with 3 refills. All my controlled (contract) meds are 28 days to make it easier to remember when to renew the prescription. I would talk to your Dr. and request 90 day supplies. I have found the VA docs to be very understanding.

chipalbritto · 11-21-2016, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69Stang

Thanks. I wasn't sure about.

It depends on you percentage. I am 90% and dont pay for anymeds

chipalbritto · 11-21-2016, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69Stang

Thanks. I wasn't sure about.

It depends on your percentage. I am 90% and dont pay for any meds

kwestcott · 06-03-2017, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy01

Depending on the type of medication, the VA may be restricted by law to 30 days. Most of my meds are dispensed for 90 days with 3 refills. All my controlled (contract) meds are 28 days to make it easier to remember when to renew the prescription. I would talk to your Dr. and request 90 day supplies. I have found the VA docs to be very understanding.

A new wrinkle has been added at the Albuquerque VA . I go to the Farmington clinic and have been very pleased with my Dr and the staff. Used to be able to order my controlled mess through secure messaging on my heathy vet. The latest deal is now I have to call the mothership pharmacy. On a good day this is an hour or better on hold . Now they will call my Dr in Farmington to authorize it. He will do it. Then the pharmacy will express mail it to me . Then I have to go in and do a urinalysis for drugs every six months to make sure that I am taking the mess. All my other meds are refilled using mhv. We are not full timers so if we are running out my boy who stays here will FedEx them to us.

crolfmilton · 07-02-2017, 02:16 PM

Call your B'S pharmacy and give them a temporary change of address. Works great.

chiefneon · 07-02-2017, 03:59 PM

Howdy!

We are fulltimers and have been for over ten years. I use the VA clinic in Lufkin, TX or Houston hospital. I explained to my Doctor in Lufkin about our fulltime travels and he write all my prescriptions for 90 days with three refills. We use the Escapees mail forwarding service in Livingston Tx. I refill all my prescriptions with Myhealthvet they go to Livingston when forwarded to where every we are. I have not had to use the VA health coverage outside of my homebase which we return to once a year for doctors appointments and visit with family as we retired for the Houston area and also have a homebase property at the Escapees in Livingston, TX.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon