VA’s goal is to deliver community care through a single consolidated program that is easy to understand, simple to administer, and meets the needs of Veterans, their families, community providers and VA staff.
For Veterans eligible for VA health care, VA’s goal is to provide Veterans with the care they need at the right time, at the right place, from the right provider. In some cases, Veterans may need to receive care from a local community care provider, paid for by VA. This includes the Veterans Choice Program (VCP).
Eligibility
Veterans may be eligible for community care if they need care that VA cannot provide. Eligibility for community care is based on the Veteran’s specific needs and circumstances in consultation with their VA provider.
Scheduling an Appointment
If a Veteran is eligible for community care based on discussions with their VA provider, they must obtain pre-authorization from VA before seeing a community care provider. In addition, care needed or recommended beyond the scope of that authorization must be approved by the VA facility that authorized the care.
Resources
