VA Hospital Billing Practices

Question:

I have been fighting the Chillicothe VA Hospital foe quite some time over the way they are charging my insurance company for things that are done. First, I am 100%, P&T, and non employable, I have been excluded from paying any co-pays but the coding staff stills charges me for almost everything else. The VA hospital back charges my insurance for what is left on my meds if there is any question. And If there is a question, they charge for it. I have requested three audits last year in the hope of stopping the abuse, but to no avail. These charges are for non-service connected medical problems that I suffer from and the hospital staff states they have the right to charge me for the visit. I said no, they said yes and keep doing it and I have gone to a U. S. Senators office over the matter. Am I wrong?

Jim's Reply:

From what you say, no...you aren't wrong. The fact of the matter is that there aren't many avenues to complain once a health care facility does something like this. I think your next step may be to file a claim for any money they've charged you and the claim can be filed to the Board of Veterans Appeals.