Foreign Medical Progam at VA Manila

According to a VA rep I spoke with today the foreign medical program(FMP) is going into effect soon. They are waiting for notification from Washington. Also they are going to stop reimbursing for travel exspenes. For those who do not want to use the FMP the outpatient clinic will still be open. You will not be reimbursed for travel though. So you can either use the FMP and wait several months to be reimbursed or travel to Manila at your exspense. On top of that according to VFW post 2485 in Angeles anyone who is scheduled for a compensation and pension(C&P) exam through the newly contracted Veterans Examination Service (VES) will have to travel 2 hours north of Angeles City to the only hospital that is approved by VES. In lieu of scheduling a C&P exam throuh VES you can go to a private specialist and have them fill out the disability questionaire form (DBQ) and have them fax it to VA Regional Office in Manila. Just be sure that it includes a medical opinion stating that your condition is either less likely than not, atleast as likely as not or more likely than not a result of a service incurred injury. Claims for disabilities secondary to a service connected disability should also include a medical opinion that the secondary disability was the result of a service connected disability. For obvious reasons a less likely than not opinion will not help getting a service connected disability. So this is how the Trump administration is going to help improve service for the vets in the Philippines. What a crock of sh*t.

 

I guess you and several million others are becoming aware that Trump is a useless self serving idiot.

 

This started at the inception of the Veteran's Choice program (different administration). I was warning people taking money away from VA infrastructure, circumventing it instead of fixing it (and leaving fewer dollars to fix it) was going to hurt in the long run. Welcome to the cuts side of Veteran's Choice (not this Veteran's Choice from the beginning but I get to share in the fun).

 

I was already aware he is a self serving idiot. I can hardly wait to see what other improvements he comes up with to so call help the vets.

 

Trump wants to repeal and replace obamacare at no cost to the taxpayers. To help vets he wants us to help finance the bullshit choice program that doesn't work like obamacare. What a douchebag!!!!!

 

It is here, it's called, Foreign Medical Program (FMP). I got an email today at 09:00, stating that it will take effect Oct. 1 this year.
I have already filled out that form and mailed it this morning.
Here is the body of that email:

To All Veterans Enrolled In the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic:

Effective October 1, 2017, VHA Foreign Medical Program (FMP) will assume medical claims processing responsibilities in the Philippines for all care in the community to include inpatient and outpatient care, diagnostic and laboratory tests, medications, refills, prosthetics and durable medical equipment reimbursement. VA Manila will no longer be issuing LOAs, pre-authorize treatment or reimburse Veterans for care received outside the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic after September 30, 2017.

Under FMP, Veterans will pay for treatment and submit official paid receipts with admission and treatment records to the address provided on the attached fact sheet. Local community providers also have the option of billing FMP directly for reimbursement. This program requires no pre-authorization or letter of authorization (LOA) before visiting a community provider as long as the medical care received is for a VA-rated service-connected condition. Treatment for non-service connected medical care is at the expense of the Veteran and cannot be reimbursed by the FMP.

Veterans living in the Philippines who choose to receive outpatient care at the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic can do so for their VA service-connected conditions. The clinic will continue to provide primary and specialty care, vaccinations, medications and refills ordered by a VA physician and perform laboratory and other ancillary tests in the clinic at no cost to the Veteran. When a service, procedure, test or specialist is not available in the clinic, the Veteran will be advised to seek treatment in the community, pay for treatment and submit official paid receipts with admission and treatment records to the FMP to be reimbursed. The Veteran’s community provider may also choose to send a bill for reimbursement directly to FMP. A service connected Veteran may be treated for non-service connected disabilities within the limits of the outpatient clinic, as stated in 38 U.S.C. § 1724(e). Follow up services required for non-service connected conditions that are beyond the capabilities of the clinic, will be the Veteran’s responsibility, including obtaining services and paying all related cost.

Veterans must register with the Foreign Medical Program on or before September 30, 2017 to ensure you can obtain and be reimbursed for medical care in the community beginning October 1, 2017. After a Veteran is registered in FMP, Veterans do not have to wait until October 1 to obtain and be reimbursed for medical care from FMP when living or traveling to other foreign countries. Simply mail or fax the enclosed registration form (VA Form No. 10-7959f-1), and include your full name, mailing address, address of residence (including country), U.S. social security number and your VA claim number to:

Foreign Medical Program (FMP)
P.O. Box 469061
Denver, CO 80246-906

 

I am waiting until my appointment 12 September to register to avoid any possible 'you should have went somewhere in Dumaguete' issues. Heck, maybe I can register while at VA Manila?

 

I will be there also in September and that is going to be a discussion while I'm there.
I would have faxed it but I don't have a fax.

 

That may be true, but with all the dismantling of the previous Presidents work and his statements about his support for military, it seem the odd that he would increase military spending and at the same time do something that is not beneficial to service men he claims to support. He should have a new motto to go with "fake news", "words mean nothing".