I received a bill yesterday for meds issued for my father from the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was given codeine, loratadine, and cabidopa. But the transactions took place after his death. I called the number and asked that they stop charging my father for these drugs. They said I was not listed on the account so I couldn't make these requested changes. I asked if it would help if I sent in another certificate of death, and they said they wouldn't open mail from me because I am not listed on the account. It looks like the only way to get these meds stopped is to bring my dad back to life, have him call the V.A. to stop the meds, and then he can go back to resting in peace.
I'll bet if I started selling these drugs on EBay the V.A. would stop sending them.
Later Note: My brother Jim was able to speak to someone at the VA who informed him "off the record" that we didn't need to pay the bill and the drugs should stop coming in a month or two. Moreover, the VA knows my dad is dead, at least they do "off the record."
That would be funny if it wasn't so aggravating. If the bills aren't paid I wonder what will happen.
ReplyDeleteI called them again later. They asked me if I had power of attorney. I said I had it up until the moment that he died, and then my status switched from P.O.A. to that of trustee. They told me trustees couldn't change the account, only people with power of attorney. I called the local Nebraska office and they let me know, illegally apparently, that they did have on record that my father passed away, and they were 75% certain he wouldn't be charged in the future of the drugs.
ReplyDeletesend this to your local paper.
ReplyDeleteInsult to injury, Michael. What a painful mess. Nothing like supporting our troops, eh, not that the civilian bureaucracy is any better.
ReplyDeleteThis is just awful. This is where bureaucracy HURTS. Really.
ReplyDelete