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VA won't refer us to Mayo, even if we requested
I have been fighting for my husband, 100% disabled veteran, to be seen at Mayo for unknown GI issues. I've called Mayo and know they accept VA Community Care, but I keep getting told by the VA that Mayo doesn't take it. They currently have him being seen at Shands hospital, but I need a team to look at the whole parts instead of hyper focusing on one. Everybody seems to keep missing the issue and he has been dealing with this for almost 3 years. It doesn't make sense to us that his bloodwork shows he's fighting an infection, yet they can't figure out what. Also, bloodwork will show that liver and kidneys are going bad at times then other times they are fine. His Shands doctor told him that he doesn't have Pancreatitis, however we've had multiple GI doctors confirm that he does including a different Shands doctor (who performed his scopes). Gallbladder has been removed and that didn't fix anything. Now we are back to him barely eating. He can't eat red meat or anything red (strawberries, watermelon, tomatoes, Fruit Punch, etc). For about a year all he could stomach was soup. I just want answers. Our kids want their dad back. Anybody have any tips that I can try to get him into Mayo Florida?
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My husband also gets VA community care and we were told by the VA that the facility must be on their approved list (which is a very short list imo) Talk to his VA social worker to run interference. Contact your local politicians offices too.
@awworrell @katbear03 This must be SO frustrating for you! Does the VA have a comprehensive medical center that they could refer you to? If not, maybe they could refer him to a hospital in Mayo Clinic’s Care Network. https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/care-network/network-members. They have access to all that Mayo offers.
If they won’t refer to a hospital in the Care Network, I agree with @mentonette. She suggests that you speak with the social worker on your husband’s case. Explain that you have no complaints with VA’s care, but that they have been unable to actually help him. You can always say things like: “he has served his country, why can’t his country help him?” (Can you tell I’m also the wife of retired army!)
Can you try one of these suggestion?
P.S. My husband just said to find the local VA service officer and ask for help. His/her job is to help. Any veteran should know or you can google it
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1 ReactionThank you so much for your help! It has been incredibly frustrating beyond words!
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1 ReactionThanks so much! From my understanding the Mayo and the VA made an agreement a few years ago and they do accept the VA’s insurance. So frustrating what a fight quality care has to be
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2 ReactionsYou could also access the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433 which is a free service available Monday thru Friday 8-5 through the Minnesota Board on Aging.
Also, there is a similar service specifically for veterans: https://linkvet.org/
Hope this is helpful now or in the future.
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1 Reaction@katbear03, you're right. Here's an article with more details about the collaboration between Mayo and the VA:
- Mayo Clinic Expands Commitment To Serving Veterans By Participating In VA Community Care Network Beginning August 1, 2020 https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-expands-commitment-to-serving-veterans-by-participating-in-va-community-care-network-beginning-august-1-2020/
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2 ReactionsIt was a long process but we got our local congress involved and we had 3 different physicians from the VA try to place a referral for my Dad to Mayo Clinic and this being the best option for him and the chief of the VA denied it. So beyond frustrating
Did you ever have any luck? We fought and fought and the VA denied our referral
Perhaps national media coverage involvement would change their mind.
My husband has Humana Medicare he’s a veteran, he’s going to cancer treatments, would the va still help him, I was told he would have to go to there doctors so we didn’t want to change.