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To all veterans:
Since 2012 we have been a part of what is now known as Community Care. It is an excellent program and brings you, our eligible veterans, high quality vision care in our office. |
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How do I get care?
1. To receive Community Care at our office or any participating office, you have requested a vision exam from your primary care physician at the VA. It is never initiated with us. |
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The VA nurse will check their facility to see availability. Almost always a huge backlog exist so they can refer you. Then community care refers you to us. Your care will be smoother and uninterrupted if they give you a Comprehensive Authorization.
Once we see you, we advise you to ask for the comprehensive authorization. Yes, we will send paper work to provide your full benefit and treatment, but sometimes your call helps more. |
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2. The VA will send us an authorization and we contact you immediately.
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3. We provide your high quality vision exam. All are impressed with the thoroughness and many comment that it was the best exam they ever had. Go to the home page and view the video called Experience What it's like at 801 S. Fairmaont AV ste 5.
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Often we find long-standing vision conditions that have been missed and some are a result of events that took place during your service. That’s the bad news, but there is good news. They are also treatable and are a part of your benefits at no cost to you. See Blake's story under Vision therapy, Light Therapy Blake's Vision Therapy Story as an example, and we didn't even treat him through Community Care, but through Medicare. |
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4. If further care is needed, we send a report and request an authorization. That is the slowest point, but we have established good relations with the VA staff. Yes, any organization this large has a bureaucracy. The policies from 2016 to 2020 seem to have changed with the new administration, and we are requesting officials to clarify these policies so we can better serve you. Our VA contacts have been gracious, friendly , appreciative , and helpful.
Some of you have Medicare which is a well run program with decades of experience. Some of the treatments unavailable from VA Community Care are available under Medicare. Should that be the case, we will help you navigate through Medicare and will absorb the deductible and accept their fee as full payment. |
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5. Once the authorization arrives, we are given plenty of time to complete testing and treatment.
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2. vision field deficits You may have been driving for years with limited side vision without even knowing it. Look at Blake's story: A purple heart but no side vision and how I got it back! under who we have helped section in Light therapy.
You don't have to have head trauma like Blake's military injury for reduced side vision. An auto accident, a sports mishap, or simply tripping and hitting you head on the ground can reduce side vision. |
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3. vision processing issues Yes, although emphasized in children, adults can have vision processing issues. You simply do not grow out of them, and many of you have been overcompensating for them many years. Also, any head trauma can cause them that unfortunately is common in the military.
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4. cataract evaluation and referral
Just as we practice vision excellence, we found an eye surgeon who practices eye disease excellence. We have successfully referred there for decades, and the office is only a block away. Yes, the eye surgeon participates in Community Care. |
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5. other eye diseases like conjunctivitis(pink eye) , pituitary tumor. corneal abrasion, ptgerium, etc. . In other words, anything for which you would expect to be treated or referred during any eye examination.
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6. Your glasses are free at the VA clinic with our prescription. We direct the clinic how to make your glasses. They deliver them in the mail. You then bring them to us and we verify them and customize them to your face for optimum use and comfort. Unfortunately this now requires a comprehensive authorization. The glasses are still free, but our services require the comprehensive authorization. Currently we are in contact with Tri-West to smooth this out.
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7. The Trump initiated Hot Line
This is the President Trump's VA HOT LINE: 1-800-273-8255. it is still in operation. Hopefully this is not needed, but it helped a patient in the past with immediate results. You must call. We can’t call for you. Tell them whatever problem is delaying your care with Dr. Henshaw and give my address and phone number. |
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