#251: Benefits Breakdown - VA's Community Care Program

VA's Office of Community Care (OCC) aims to place the choice of provider in the hands of eligible Veterans and assist them in finding the best options for their care.

On this episode of Borne the Battle, Dr. Elizabeth Brill, chief medical officer at OCC, breaks down the process of determining eligibility, making appointments and receiving care through community care.

Types of care available under Community Care include:

General careUrgent careEmergency careForeign medical careHome, health and hospice careIndian Health ServicesIn Vitro Fertilization (IVF)State Veterans HomesFlu shots

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AVAILABLE TYPES OF CARE

Eligibility depends on the individual Veteran’s needs and circumstances. For example, travel distance from a VHA facility is now calculated by drive time, not mileage, and Veterans living over 30 minutes from a VHA facility are eligible for community care.

The other eligibility categories include:

Needing a service that VA doesn’t provide.Not having a full-service VA in the state or territory in which you live.When VA cannot schedule appointments in a timely manner.When available VA care isn’t meeting quality care standards.

It is also possible for Veterans to receive Community Care authorization at the recommendation of their VA doctor, even if they don’t meet any of the eligibility criteria.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS

Once Veterans are approved to receive care in their community, VA will make the necessary appointments or assist the Veteran in making the appointment.

Dr. Brill also provides instructions for providers to apply to become Community Care Network providers for VA. If a Veteran wants to be seen by a provider that isn't in the Community Care Network, they can ask that provider to follow the instructions to care for Veterans under VA benefits instead of private insurance. Providers can also receive CCN provider status without a Veteran’s request to better serve the Veterans in their community by making themselves available under VA benefits.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A VA COMMUNITY PROVIDER

Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week:

Army Veteran Mike Tarpley

Additional Links:

Provider and Facility locatorVA Community Care Network CCN – Extended informational videoBorne the Battle BONUS: COVID Update #7: Clinical Trials and Emergency Department ProceduresOnline scheduling – manage community care appointments online at the click of a button – VAntage PointVA MISSION Act: Answers to top questions about community care appointments – VAntage PointVA to start processing disability claims for certain conditions related to particulate matterVA clinical breakthrough study shows effective male UTI treatments in just seven days