Dealing with the VA

Anyone elese dealing with the VA ? I mean so far they have been extremely easy to deal with but my VA doctor is trying to get me an appointment set up with a chiropractor that is out side of the VA, and it's getting really irritating. I mean if it's something the VA can do at a clinic it's less than a 5 minute call and done but with this so far I've called three different numbers all of which transfered me to another number , just really irritating to get to the chiropractor that up the road from my local clinic.
Is it always this difficult?

Unfortunately, yes for me it has been. The first two times they sent me to the Chiropractor, it took less than a week to get me an authorized appointment. Then they "changed the program" I was told. The last two times it has taken about 4 months each time to get me an appointment. All of these have been at providers outside the VA. I feeli got better care before they started "fixing" it.

No. I had a skin cancer and the VA dermatologist was all booked up. They got me right in to a civilian. Unless its something that is possibly life threatening though its all hot air and run around to see someone outside the VA. For the most part VA hospital in Topeka has been very good to me. My primary DR is not the most pleasant DR l ever had but seems competent

Anything outside of the VA has been a circus to get done for me. I started down here at the Memphis VA and ended up at Jackson as didn't like the Memphis at all.

The VA can be a real PITA sometimes, but, I think your problem is with "Medical" Dr's and "Chiropractic" Dr's . Medical Dr's refuse to deal with Chiro's because of the claims that some make that they can cure all sorts of medical problems, ie: Colds, Flue STD's, Cancer etc, by "Cracking" your back. The Chinese call it "Acupuncture", and may have something there, but ?????

There’s your issue. Chiropractic medicine is still considered homeopathic in many circles. VA doesn’t do homeopathic medicine.

Exactly
My primary care doctor nor anyone else I asked would recommend use of, nor refer to a chiropractor. I'm told there are none in the VA system, so, if that is true and you need/want to see a chiropractor it has to be outside the system. You are kinda lucky they pay for it as it is not recognized medicine. VA physical therapy is helping me though. so far.

Wolfie, are you service connected for something chiropractic treatment would even help? Back injury ( which is mind boggling hard to get ) ? Neck ?

Hang in there Wolfie, it is not impossible. I am service-connected, but not for my back. The first time they did x-rays bf they would send me to the chiropractor. That time it took about 5 days after my primary doc put in for it to get me an appointment with a local chiropractor. The VA authorized 12 treatments or visits over a 6 month period. Within about 3 months after those visits were over they authorized another 12 in 6 months. A year later they authorized 12 in 6, but it took some office at the main hospital 4 months to get me in to the local chiropractor. I was told it took so long bc they had changed the program and all the out in town docs had to sign back up. Now a year later again and they approved 12 in 3 months. I've been told to space out your request for chiropractic Care.

Well I'm currently working in a claim for my lower back and hip. Started having constant pain back there at the start of the deployment ,never got any better just slowly worse. I kept most of my sick call slips and and they all say basically the same thing. Really hoping having someone crack me like a chem light will help. I'd prefer not to add any more meds to the list their all ready trying to push

I mean it's really irritating,I get a call from Jackson because the folks who are supposed to be setting me up got my info wrong and have been calling the wrong number for like three weeks,so she transfers me to them to enroll with tri west ,well tri west tells me I can't go anyfuther with them because I'm not enrolled with them so he transfers me to someone elese and she tell me the tri west isn't a thing anymore and transfers me to another line where I'm waiting for close to 15min before I finally hang up. Like holy crap. I'm really tempted to just cancel the whole deal and go to town and see how much it will run me out of pocket.

42$ to go to the chiropractor here.

$40 here for a Chiro adjustment. One visit usually has me reset on my sciatic nerve.

You do know the Veterans Choice Program is dead now? The cards are no good no more and they won't pay?

This the replacement program and I haven't studied it yet. https://www.va.gov/communitycare/

these might help too https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/patientadvocate/
https://www.jackson.va.gov/patients/customerservice.asp
Jackson does have in house chiropractic care https://www.jackson.va.gov/services/Chiropractic.asp

Now as I was researching this for you it occurs to me that you are not likely signed up for Primary Care and until you have a Primary Care Team assigned, you won't get any services through the VHS. You'll probably need to visit the nearest clinic with DD214 in hand and enroll in the health system, have your picture taken and get a VA ID card, they will then assign you a PC Dr & Team who will be your key to any VA health care, the PC Dr has to request any and all services from any and all specialty clinics. At my hospital the enrollment and picture taking is done at the Urgent Care/Emergency Room desk.

AND, any Vet enrolled in the VAMC system is exempt from the O'bama Care program.

I work at a VA hospital and we have chiropractor on staff, as well as a massage therapist and other "homeopathic" medicine

Good to know, Jason ! Was unaware of that and gave the exact answer I was given recently. By my VA care team.

I know there is a chiropractor at the VA hospital in Leavenworth. At least there was in 06. I had some back surgery done and he showed me some exercises to do.