Help Scott Innes Beat Cancer

I'm Scott Innes and I started this Go Fund Me Campaign. Today's update is on 10/16/23.

This is extremely difficult for me to do. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to ask again for financial help. If anyone is able to help me, I am extremely grateful for this. I'm also grateful for everyone who has already donated to my cause and everyone who has sent messages of support. Thank you! I have tried so hard to take care of my own health costs and living expenses undergoing Prostate Cancer treatment, but I just can't do it alone.

Here's what's happening to me right now. My situation is affecting others and this is what hurts me the most. I'm now behind on two months rent for September and October, $2600 x 2. My landlord has two small children under 5 years old and her husband has a surf school in Lahaina, which is of course now closed and is not working until he can rebuild his business and the tourists come back. They are suffering because of me. They can't afford me to live here and not pay rent. If there is anything you can do to help me during this temporary setback I am eternally grateful.

I'm still fighting with the Veteran's Administration to pay for my cancer treatment, which is currently outstanding at $23,162.60. I'm also fighting them to reimburse me for my airfare and lodging, which was denied. They say "Beneficiary travel is not authorized. There are closer options to see VA Urology so Beneficiary Travel is denied." That's not correct and now I have to prove it to the VA. Two diagnostic tests and treatment I received in San Francisco at UCSF are NOT AVAILABLE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII - PSMA PET SCAN and CYBERKNIFE RADIATION TREATMENT.

I'm a service-connected veteran and my only healthcare here on Maui is through the local VA clinic, called the Maui CBOC, where my Primary VA Doctor is located. For all specialty health care requests, except for primary care, Vets located more than 40 miles from a VA hospital must first be referred by their primary doctor to receive specialty Care in the Community from private doctors which will be paid for by the VA. This must be authorized (before service) by the VA. The caveat is that you must go through their government red-tape approval process which always takes several weeks and months to get approved and get an appointment to see any specialty doctor or Cancer Treatment here in Hawaii.

Last year one of my referrals was waiting in the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare CIC approval department incoming Queue. The Oahu staff was reviewing faxes from a month and a half earlier for referral requests. That’s the perfect example of the dysfunction and service provided by the VA Pacific Island’s Health Care system. They do not care about Veterans. VA Doctors are immune from any liability as government employees and do not need malpractice insurance like the private sector. This system leads to a completely broken dysfunctional government-run healthcare system. It’s disgusting and unacceptable.

Hawaii is the only State in the nation that does not have its own VA Hospital. All other 49 states have a VA Hospital. The VA Pacific Islands is a Quasi-VA Hospital operating under the wings of the Tripler Army Medical Center on Oahu. Affectionately called “Crippler Army Medical Center” due to their long and recent history of major malpractice awards won against the United States government and taxpayers for healthcare received at Tripler Army Medical Center.

I could die if I waited for the VA to schedule my cancer treatment. Many Veterans have died and are dying waiting for health care they have earned and deserve from the VA.

The process is laborious, time-consuming, and sub-standard of care for veterans suffering from a life-threatening disease, such as cancer which may have metastasized and which requires timely care for the best chance of survival. I will beat this and do anything possible to get the best healthcare possible, but I need your help.

Although the VA Pacific Islands has approved my Cancer Care in the Community at the UCSF, one of the best cancer centers in the country, which I am grateful for, the infinite wisdom of the administrators at the VA Pacific Islands have denied booking my travel or allowing me to stay at the hotel at the VA San Francisco. They will not approve booking me at the VA Hotel for Traveling because I am not seeing a VA doctor. Can you believe that? They approve my doctor but won’t approve me staying there because the “travel department” says I can get similar treatment from other doctors on the island of Oahu. The VA Administrators of the Travel Department are dictating my healthcare options !!

I'm at a tipping point. It's a nightmare.

I started this campaign to help fund travel and treatment expenses for my travel to San Francisco for 8 weeks of radiation treatment, airfare, hotel, and transportation expenses, and expenses of running my home away from home without any income while I’m fighting cancer.

I'm gonna beat this and I will be cured. I appreciate all of your thoughts, positive energies, notes, messages, and prayers to help me get through this. It means a lot to me.

Aloha, Scott