Dear editor,

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, Mr. Tyler H. Jones of the La Grange Daily News wrote a story about me, William England, and my plight with the Veteran Choice Program, but the front page story was more about how the West Georgia Medical Center would not participate in the Veteran Choice Card Program.

Jan Nichols, a spokesperson for West Georgia Health, said at the time they did not meet the requirement for the reimbursement.

I wrote several letters to the Leslie Wiggins, medical center director at the Atlanta Medical Center, and she in turn with Dr. Paoli-Bruno contacted the choice program through the Health Net Federal Services assured the West Georgia Health that payments would be made, and I was given an authorization number to see a cardiopulmonary disease specialist, Dr. Richard Simmons.

Dr. Simmons’ right-hand person, Toni Brown, started sending in to the Veteran Choice Program for an appointment and after several faxes to their fax line, I had an appointment for a CAT scan. That test showed the nodules on my lungs were double in size, then RN Toni Brown had to send in more requests for a PET scan, and this scan showed the nodules were again increased in size. Again, RN Toni Brown had to send in several more request for a biopsy. This was finally done March 31, and I am waiting on the results now.

The reason I am writing this letter is to inform any veteran in Troup County who has the Choice Program and may want more information, the Choice has a website for all the information. The West Georgia Health will now take veterans and the Choice Program, and will make the appointment for you if the doctors are in the Veteran Choice Program.

More people than the local people read the LaGrange Daily News as some lady reporter from the CBS Broadcasting TV in New York called and wanted to use Tyler Jones’ story, and may come to LaGrange and get some pictures.

William England

LaGrange