By Charles Mix County Veterans Service Officer Jerry Seiner

If you are enrolled in VA Healthcare, do you know what to do if you have a medical emergency?

The issue must be an actual emergency or at least appear to be manifesting itself in a way that any prudent layperson would reasonably assume the condition is of an emergent nature. Keep in mind that a VA facility or equivalent must not have been available.

In emergency cases, someone should let the VA know that the veteran was taken to the ER as soon as possible but within 72 hours. Inform the hospital staff that you are a VA patient and ask them to call the VA where you are enrolled or have a family member make the call. The notification center number is 844-724-7842. Be sure you follow up to make sure this happens.

Urgent Care Veterans may go to an urgent care in their area however, they must be an in-Network Provider. You may find a location by calling 888-901-6609.

If a Veteran is seen at an Emergency Department or Acute Care, in some instances the Veteran is responsible to pay for those medications up to a 14-day supply. The Veteran must contact CITC, Call Center Billing Office for reimbursement of the medications at 877-881-7618.

Remember, the emergency services must be provided in a hospital emergency department, the veteran must have been enrolled in VA Healthcare and have previously received care within the 24-month period preceding the emergency treatment.

The VA will only pay for emergency care of non-service-connected conditions if they have met the above and have no other coverages that would fully pay the medical liability for the emergency treatment. File your claim with the nearest VA Medical Center quickly because time limits usually apply. For non-service-connected care, the time limit is 90 days.

Payment is limited to the point of stabilization except when the VA is contacted at the point of stabilization and VA cannot accept the transfer of the veteran.

It can be a lot of emotional stress for families to remember all of this when something happens to a loved one – so the best advice is call VA first and keep them in the loop as things progress.

If you have questions or need assistance, contact your Veterans Service Officer at the Charles Mix County Courthouse at 605-487-7691 or 605-481-1338 by cell phone.