Windom Area Health continues to be an in-network provider for the Veteran Affairs (VA) Community Care Network. This means you can receive most services locally without having to drive to Sioux Falls or Minneapolis. Veterans must receive approval from the VA prior to obtaining care from a community provider in most circumstances.
Eligibility will continue to be dependent upon a Veteran’s individual health care needs or circumstances. Eligibility criteria include:
- Veteran needs a service not available at a VA medical facility.
- Veteran qualifies under the “grandfather” provision related to distance eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program. Veteran’s average drive time to a VA medical facility is 30-minutes or more for primary care, mental health, and non-institutional extended care services or more than 60-minutes average drive time for specialty care. Veteran’s should check with their primary care physician to see if they are an in-network provider as well.
- VA cannot furnish care within certain designated access standards.
- It is in the veteran’s best interest.
- A VA service line does not meet certain quality standards.
- Veteran lives in a U.S. state without a full-service VA medical facility.
Referrals are not required if the Veteran is experiencing an urgent or emergent symptom or condition. The VA must be notified within 72 hours of a Veteran seeking care at an in-network emergency room.
Click on these links for fact sheets regarding VA Community Care:
- https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/docs/pubfiles/factsheets/VA-FS_CC-Eligibility.pdf
- https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/docs/pubfiles/factsheets/VA-FS_Sunset-of-Choice.pdf
Veterans should contact their VA facility to determine if they are eligible for community care.
- Sioux Falls
1-800-316-8387, option 0 - Minneapolis
1-612-467-6565, option 2 - VA Community Care Call Center
1-877-881-7618, option 1, appointments and referrals
Blog Written By: Kim Armstrong, Executive Director of Compliance and Foundation/Auxiliary
References: Veteran Community Care Eligibility Fact Sheet, Veteran Community Care – Sunset of Veterans Choice Program VA MISSION Act of 2018, Community Care Network (CCN) Fact Sheet, Quick Reference Guide for Providers