Roughly a year after being signed into law, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs seems pleased with its new community care program for veterans.
The community care program is a major piece of the VA Mission Act of 2018 which allows veterans enrolled in VA Health Care to receive care from non-VA providers. According to VA spokesperson Joseph Burks, the program was “designed to take care of our veterans” by providing more health care choices for if the VA were unable to provide a certain form of needed care.
Burks explains there is a number of criteria that determine a veteran’s eligibility for community care. This includes a needed service not being available at a VA medical facility, living in an area or territory with no access to a VA medical facility, not being within 30 miles of a VA facility, if it is in the veteran’s best medical interest to receive care elsewhere or if the VA service line does not meet certain standards.
The program’s rollout was preceded by the VA’s announcement that the Emporia Community-Based Outpatient Clinic would be closing in Mid-June of last year. This was due to the clinic’s utilization rate not justifying its remaining open according to Burks.
Burks says the community care program has not only given veterans more options for care, but it has also helped to streamline certain processes.
Burks says there could be some co-pay required depending on service connections, however, it is not required prior to receiving services.
For more information regarding community care, including if you meet eligibility requirements visit this story at KVOE.com where we have provided a link to the VA’s website.
