HEALTH SENSE
VA changes ambulance travel reimbursement for some Alaska veterans By Dr. Timothy Ballard
Alaska VA Healthcare System
O
ver the last several years, the Alaska VA Healthcare System has been authorizing and reimbursing ambulance transportation for all Alaska veterans regardless of their beneficiary travel eligibility in accordance with 38 USC III and 38 CFR part 70. An audit in 2019 revealed that this practice was in error. Therefore, effective immediately, we will no longer be authorized to approve or reimburse ground or air ambulance transportation for Alaska veterans who are not eligible for travel benefits in accordance to these laws. I apologize for this change. However, during my most recent town halls, I tried to explain that this had the potential of occurring soon. However, I did not realize that the VA Central Office decision would be finalized so quickly. As one of the least-resourced states for health care services, air ambulance transportation is an essential facet of emergency care coordination for many Alaskans. It is incredibly expensive. Therefore, I strongly recommend that all Alaska veterans — particularly those who do not qualify for travel benefits — immediately research their options for ground ambulance and/or air ambulance coverage to protect themselves from a potential financial catastrophe. If you have any questions about your eligibility for VA travel benefits, please call the beneficiary travel office at 907257-4738. To ensure widespread awareness of 30
this critical change in our operations, my staff will also send out emails and post this information via social media. In addition, we will also be contacting all Alaska hospitals and emergency departments to notify them of this critical update. If you are travel eligible, these are the items for which the VA will reimburse you:
Airfare and ferries
• Will reimburse up to the maximum government rate allowed for the most economical or medically required common carrier. • All common carrier methods of travel must be preapproved by the VA BENEtravel department.
Hotels
• Hotels must be preapproved by the VA BENEtravel department and are only reimbursed at up to 50% of the government employee rate. • If the veteran is inpatient, hotel is not reimbursable regardless of nonmedical attendant being present.
Taxi, UBER and Lyft
• Will reimburse if a date, start-
ALASKA PULSE MONTHLY — April 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com
ing location and ending location are annotated. Only reimbursable travel is between airports, hotels and appointments. No stops in between will be reimbursed. • The VA will not reimburse for extra trips, for example to meal locations, or trips from appointments to the hotel if you are flying out the same day • Will not reimburse for rental cars, fuel or tips of any kind. • Must be preapproved by BENEtravel department.
Meals
• Will reimburse up to the local per diem rate for the city you are scheduled for a medical appointment in. Each city has a different per diem rate, please contact BENEtravel for local per diem rates. Reimbursed at up to 50% of the government employee rate. • Receipts must be itemized, if receipts are not itemized there will be no reimbursement for that amount. All receipts must have a date legible for reimbursement. • Will only reimburse for food items; no tobacco, alcohol or medications • Will not reimburse for tips. Will reimburse for taxes and surcharges. • Must be preapproved by BENEtravel department.
Parking
• Can reimburse for parking fees associated with preapproved common carrier (flight) fees. Dr. Timothy Ballard is director of the Alaska VA Healthcare System.
