Why Your Practice Should Join the Veterans Administration (VA) Community Care Network
The health and well-being of Veterans are of the utmost importance, and community healthcare providers play a vital role in ensuring they receive the timely and high-quality care they deserve. The VA Community Care Network (CCN) bridges the gap between Veterans and community practices, offering an invaluable opportunity for providers to expand their impact while supporting those who served.
What is the VA Community Care Network (CCN)?
The VA CCN is a program established under the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to ensure that Veterans can access care outside of VA facilities when it is in their best interest. Whether a Veteran lives too far from a VA medical center or needs a service not available within the VA, the CCN provides them access to a broad network of community-based healthcare providers.
By partnering with the VA, community practices gain the ability to treat Veterans while ensuring seamless coordiation of care, referrals, and reimbursement. It should be noted the program is structured to reimburse the providers at a MEDICARE Reimbursement rate for any scheduled procedure or service, and the two payers who manage the program have kept a record of repayments within 30 days of proper billing. Through their contracts with the VA, they have been incentivized properly to ensure providers are properly reimbursed for the valuable service provided.
Why Should Your Practice Join the CCN?
- Serve Those Who Served Us
- Veterans have made sacrifices for our country, and healthcare providers have the chance to give back by ensuring they receive the care they need, closer to home.
- Many Veterans face barriers to accessing VA facilities due to location, schooling, capacity, or specific care requirements. By joining the CCN, your practice can play a critical role in removing these barriers.
- Expand Your Patient Base
- Participation in the CCN opens the door to a steady stream of patients referred by the VA, providing stability and opportunities for growth in your practice.
- Veterans represent a large and diverse group of patients with a variety of healthcare needs, from routine check-ups to specialized treatments.
- Streamlined Reimbursement
- The VA CCN ensures that providers are reimbursed for the care they deliver through its partnership with regional administrators like Optum and TriWest.
- By meeting CCN requirements, your practice can enjoy smooth billing processes and prompt payment for services rendered.
- Improve Veteran Health Outcomes
- Veterans often face unique health challenges, such as higher rates of certain chronic illnesses and service-related conditions. As a CCN provider, you can contribute to improving their quality of life through timely, high-quality care.
- Simplified Enrollment Process
- Joining the CNN is straightforward. Practices need to determine their region, ensure they meet Medicare reimbursement standards, and establish a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). Once enrolled, your practice will be equipped to provide care to Veterans in your area.
How to Join the VA Community Care Network
- Determine your region (Regions 1-3 are managed by Optum, and Regions 4-5 are managed by TriWest.)
- Contact the appropriate regional adminsitrator to initiate the enrollment process:
- Optum Regions (1-3): Call 800-901-7407 or visit their provider page.
- https://vacommunitycare.com/provider
- TricWest Regions (4-5): Call 1-855-722-2838 or visit their provider page.
- https://www.triwest.com/en/veteran-services/
- Review requirements for a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA) and complete your enrollment.
A Veteran’s Journey Through CCN
- A Veteran seeks care through their VA provider.
- The VA determines the Veteran qualifies for community care and refers them to an in-network provider.
- The community provider delivers care and submits medical records back to the VA.
- The provider bills Optum or TriWest for reimbursement.
By joining the CCN, your practice becomes an essential part of this seamless process, ensuring Veterans get the care they deserve.
Conclusion
Joining the VA Community Care Network is more than a business opportunity—it’s a chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Veterans. By enrolling, your practice can contribute to a healthier future for those who served while benefitting from increased patient volume and streamlined processes.
Take the next step today and learn how your practice can make a difference.
By : Mike “Bing” Crosby, Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness Inc, mike.crosby@vpca.vet