Question:
I had to have a valve replacement, the doctor at the VA hospital gave me a choice to have it done at the VA hospital or go to a community hospital only 4 miles from my home. He said that the VA would still take car of it. Well, I got the referral ok'd and had it done. Now the VA has rejected the bills because addresses were wrong. They never said anything to me and the doctors people went to my supplemental Humana. Now I'm getting notices from bill collectors. Is this the VA's responsibility?
Jim's Reply:
VA physicians don't have the authority to authorize such things. I'm not sure what you mean by, "the doctors people went to my supplement Humana"?
It sounds as if maybe you have a Humana insurance policy and the civilian hospital got that policy number and they're billing Humana.
You have a very serious problem. I'd advise that you open a conversation with a veterans law attorney or your Congressional Representative as soon as you can to get some help.
Whether or not this is VA responsibility isn't clear to me. A valve replacement isn't usually a service connected condition so even if you have it done at a VA hospital, if you have a private insurance, VA will bill that insurance for payment.
Good luck sir.