Friends.....
Posting to the journal this week has been non existant due to....well, reality. Sometimes when things seem to be sailing on a smooth course, unhappy reality reaches up and just smacks you in the face.
I learned this week from Midland Memorial Hospital that the Veteran's Administration was balking at paying the extensive costs for my heart rebuild late last year. I have had no reason to doubt over the years that the Veteran's Administration would be there as my major medical provider. The reason for the "problem" is a long and involved story, but basically is rooted in the fine print of recent changes in the VA system mandated by congress. Changes designed to save money by shortchanging veterans including changes that affect the payment of "fee based" services. That is....emergency services performed outside of a VA hospital, which is what my case involves. And I have to add that I do not blame the Veteran's Administration where my care at their hospitals has always been superb. The problem is the trough swilling politicians who control the purse strings and who never miss an opportunity to raise their own salaries and benefits packages while violating promises made to veterans.
I have to say that when I learned of this "problem", it sent me into the grandest of funks. But as I've learned, one can either do little or nothing and feel sorry for himself, or one can go into action. Personally, action makes me feel a little better anyway so.....the day after learning of the "problem" I went to the VA Regional Hospital in Big Spring to learn the details for myself. The "problem", in simple terms, is a grand government Catch-22. If you have had no medical problems and haven't used the hospital services within two years, then when you do need services you are not entitled to them. In other words, in a time of VA austerity, the idea is that all registered veterans should visit the hospital once a year whether needed or not. The staff in Big Spring wanted to help but said they are locked in by "law" on this concept.
I left thinking that I would visit my congressman's office about the situation. I still might, however for the time being fate intervened. I happened to get a call from my good friend Joe Galloway in Washington. As we talked the thought occured to me that with all his conections Joe might know someone within the VA heirarchy that I might speak to. And in fact he did...the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs who just happens to be the Chief Operating Officer of the entire VA Medical System.
Joe provided the Deputy Secretary's personal office email address and I composed a respectful email letter outlining my "problem" which I sent this afternoon. I sometimes forget what "going to the top" through a personal recommendation will do for a situation. Within 30 minutes I had an email reply from the Dep. Secretary's personal assistant saying that he was out of town but that she had asked one of the senior staff members to look into my "problem". Literally 30 mintues later the staff member called me asking for all the details of the "problem" and promising all the help they could provide. Additionally Joe tells me that he has written a personal note to his friend, the Deputy Secretary.
Truthfully I was reluctant to write this narrative as the outcome of the "problem" is still in doubt and the reality is that it may not yet be solved to my liking. But, I had to say that this has reminded me that even when things look dark, if one has friends and family on his side and a willingness to take action, there is hope.
Posting to the journal this week has been non existant due to....well, reality. Sometimes when things seem to be sailing on a smooth course, unhappy reality reaches up and just smacks you in the face.
I learned this week from Midland Memorial Hospital that the Veteran's Administration was balking at paying the extensive costs for my heart rebuild late last year. I have had no reason to doubt over the years that the Veteran's Administration would be there as my major medical provider. The reason for the "problem" is a long and involved story, but basically is rooted in the fine print of recent changes in the VA system mandated by congress. Changes designed to save money by shortchanging veterans including changes that affect the payment of "fee based" services. That is....emergency services performed outside of a VA hospital, which is what my case involves. And I have to add that I do not blame the Veteran's Administration where my care at their hospitals has always been superb. The problem is the trough swilling politicians who control the purse strings and who never miss an opportunity to raise their own salaries and benefits packages while violating promises made to veterans.
I have to say that when I learned of this "problem", it sent me into the grandest of funks. But as I've learned, one can either do little or nothing and feel sorry for himself, or one can go into action. Personally, action makes me feel a little better anyway so.....the day after learning of the "problem" I went to the VA Regional Hospital in Big Spring to learn the details for myself. The "problem", in simple terms, is a grand government Catch-22. If you have had no medical problems and haven't used the hospital services within two years, then when you do need services you are not entitled to them. In other words, in a time of VA austerity, the idea is that all registered veterans should visit the hospital once a year whether needed or not. The staff in Big Spring wanted to help but said they are locked in by "law" on this concept.
I left thinking that I would visit my congressman's office about the situation. I still might, however for the time being fate intervened. I happened to get a call from my good friend Joe Galloway in Washington. As we talked the thought occured to me that with all his conections Joe might know someone within the VA heirarchy that I might speak to. And in fact he did...the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs who just happens to be the Chief Operating Officer of the entire VA Medical System.
Joe provided the Deputy Secretary's personal office email address and I composed a respectful email letter outlining my "problem" which I sent this afternoon. I sometimes forget what "going to the top" through a personal recommendation will do for a situation. Within 30 minutes I had an email reply from the Dep. Secretary's personal assistant saying that he was out of town but that she had asked one of the senior staff members to look into my "problem". Literally 30 mintues later the staff member called me asking for all the details of the "problem" and promising all the help they could provide. Additionally Joe tells me that he has written a personal note to his friend, the Deputy Secretary.
Truthfully I was reluctant to write this narrative as the outcome of the "problem" is still in doubt and the reality is that it may not yet be solved to my liking. But, I had to say that this has reminded me that even when things look dark, if one has friends and family on his side and a willingness to take action, there is hope.
