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Minneapolis VAMC Accepts Ambulances for Certain Conditions
Starting Monday, March 15, the Minneapolis VA Medical Center (VAMC) will accept Veteran patients with certain medical conditions who arrive by ambulance. There are a number of exclusions to the policy including burn victims, pregnancies, multiple traumatic injuries, and cases requiring forensic procedures such as acute sexual assault. Also, cases where there is a clear need to take the Veteran to the closest medical care facility because of an immediate life-threatening condition will not come to the Minneapolis VAMC.
In the past, VAMC was on a “divert” status with the local Emergency Medical System (EMS), meaning ambulances went directly to a community hospital emergency department where a Veteran patient would be stabilized and then transferred to Minneapolis VAMC when appropriate. Now, a Veteran living in the Minneapolis-St. Paul 911-referral area, who calls for an ambulance, will be transported directly to VAMC if they desire and provided they are medically appropriate.
This includes patients who have experienced a heart attack or stroke, or a non-critical facture, such as breaking a hip in a fall. The new policy only affects Veterans with access to the VAMC emergency room. Beneficiary travel regulations have not changed. To get more information and submit claims for consideration to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, contact the Beneficiary Travel Office:
In person: Beneficiary Travel Office is located inside the Patient Family Center in room 1S-114.
By mail: Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Attn: 136B, One Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417.
By fax: (612) 970-5864.
By phone: (612) 467-1396.
Claims should include:
• Veteran's name, address, and phone number.
• A statement of what is being requested
• Documentation to support the request
Documentation should include the Ambulance bill, the date of service, name/address of the company providing transport.
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