IMPORTANT NOTICE

TO: VA-FMP (Foreign Medical Program) users

FROM: Don Ratcliffe – Service Officer VFW Post 9876

SUBJECT: FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM - Elimination of Hospital Prepayment Expenses for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities While In Thailand *

This Notice is published for those members who have service-connected disabilities approved by Veterans Affairs.

Background:
When you are stateside and have a service-connected problem requiring medical attention, you go to a VA Hospital. You receive medical treatment without any requirement for payment.

To date, when you are in a foreign country and have a service-connected problem requiring medical attention, you go to a hospital for treatment. YOU PREPAY ALL YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES, and then send your medical bills to the VA-Foreign Medical Program for re-imbursement.

This has now changed.

* This Notice was edited from information received from the Chiang Mai VFW Post for which we are truly grateful.

NEW PROGRAM with NO PREPAYMENT

The following hospitals have agreed to bill for direct FMP re-imbursement:

Samitivej Sriracha Hospital (Located at Sri Racha)
www.samitivejhospitals.com/sriracha/about/us_en.aspx
Directions for going to the Samitivej Hospital From Pattaya. Go north on Sukhumvit Road headed toward Sri Racha. Continuing pass the Robinson’s Department store for  5 minutes, you come to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Turn left towards the beach.

[Please note that this IS NOT the Phyathai Sriracha General hospital that some members use for TRICARE services.]

Chiang Mai Ram Hospital
www.chiangmairam.com/index.php?lang=en

[Please note that neither the VA nor the VFW nor any of its members endorse these facilities. They are provided for you as a convenience.]

In order to enroll in this program you must pre-arrange with the hospital to bill FMP for ONLY your VA-approved disability.

To get pre-screened and enrolled, contact the VFW Post 9876 Service Officer Don Ratcliffe at
081-291-0535 or dratc@loxinfo.co.th

You will need a copy of your passport and your VA authorization documents showing the disabilities for which you may receive care under this program.
               
The Service Officer will coordinate getting you an assigned English-speaking point of contact at your selected hospital.