Show Emergency Treatment 01 Veterans Restrictions Outlined Costs of emergency treatment f veterans in private hospi'als aaay be paid by Veterans Administration Admin-istration only if thPrnedieal care was for service-connected conditio condi-tio as. VA 5ialned that the medical warrgency must have been such feat failure to secure Immediate Immedi-ate hospitalization would have bee hazardous to the veteran. VA may assume full medical responsibility in such cases only I if the emergency treatment is reported to the nearest VA hospital hos-pital or regional office within 72 hours after admission of the veteran to a prlva'e hospital. The agency cannot pay private hospital bills for veterans who elect to receive treatment in non-VA non-VA facilities as a matter of choice rather than of necessity. A veteran who has paid his private hospital bill for emergency emer-gency treatment of a service-connected condition may file a claim for reimbursement by VA. VA said reimbursement claims can be approved only if proof is submtned that the emergency required the veteran to be taken to the nearest private hospital fcr treatment and would not have permitted his admission to a VA hospital. |