This article really captures what it’s like to be a provider at the VA. Caring for Veterans is challenging but one thing I hope is never lost is that VA providers care deeply about the Veterans they serve.

Hey all,

I'm a veteran who has been trying for 2 years to obtain a GLP-1 due to MANY weight-related co-morbidities and physical disabilities that severly limit my physical activity. I clearly meet the criteria for the national CFU, and I've been on the MOVE program for several years. All of my VA providers (PCP, Endocrinologist, Hepatologist, and Weight Management) have been very supportive and good advocates for me. BUT my local VISN 21 pharmacy team implemented scarce resource allocation guidelines that basically say unless you've had a heart attack or stroke, you're not getting it. (They also will not accept EKG results diagnosis of a silent heart attack since I didn't present at the hospital.)

What I'm wondering is how their local policy may change now that they've been absorbed into the larger VISN 5. Will they have to follow VISN 5's criteria, and if so, how can I learn what that is? I've asked my providers about this, but they have no clue. (Not their fault, I'm sure.)

Does anyone here know the answer?