VA to Reconsider Payments to Providers for Some Denied Claims
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its third-party administrators, Optum and TriWest, will reconsider payments to providers whose claims were denied because of simple routing errors, including claims that were submitted to the wrong VA payer (VA or a TPA).
VA and TriWest Move Forward on Veterans Community Care Network for California
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced resolution of the protest to the contract awarded to TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp. for Region 4 — including California — of VA’s Community Care Network (CCN). As a result, VA will move forward with implementing CCN Region 4 in partnership with TriWest and will provide an update on the timing in mid-2020.
TriWest to Administer California’s VA Community Care Network
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest) a contract to administer the VA’s Community Care Network (CCN) in California. TriWest will establish and maintain a network of community care providers in the state, as outlined in the Veterans Community Care Program final rule.
VA Issues Final Rule Implementing Veterans Community Care Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued its final rule implementing the criteria for determining when covered veterans may elect to receive necessary hospital, medical, and extended care services from non-VA entities or providers under the Veterans Community Care Program. The final rule became effective June 6, when the Veterans Community Care Program replaced the Veterans Choice Program, as required by the MISSION Act of 2018.
CHA Comments on Veterans Community Care Program Proposed Rule
CHA has submitted comments to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on its proposed rule implementing the Veterans Community Care Program, which will replace the Veterans Choice Program as required by the MISSON Act of 2018.
VA Issues Veterans Community Care Program Proposed Rule
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued a proposed rule implementing provisions of the Veterans Community Care Program — authorized by the MISSION Act — which allows covered veterans to receive necessary hospital, medical and extended care services from non-VA providers.
Under the MISSION Act, veterans enrolled in the VA health system can seek care from non-VA providers if they meet one of the following six conditions:
VA does not offer the required care or services.
VA does not operate a full-service medical facility in the state where the veteran resides.
The veteran was eligible to receive care under the Veterans Choice Program and is eligible to receive care under certain grandfathering provisions.
VA is not able to furnish care or services to a veteran in a manner that complies with VA’s proposed access standards.
The veteran and the referring clinician determine it is in the veteran’s best medical interest to receive care or services from an eligible entity or provider based on consideration of proposed criteria.
The veteran is seeking care or services from a VA medical service line that VA has determined is not providing care that complies with VA’s standards of quality.
The proposed rule also defines which non-VA entities and providers are eligible to participate in the program and clarifies payment rates and methodologies for those community providers. VA previously issued a separate proposed rule implementing urgent care provisions for the new program. Comments on the proposed rule are due March 25.
Department of Veterans Affairs Proposes Access Standards for Veteran Community Care Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has proposed access standards under the new Veterans Community Care Program, as required by the MISSION Act of 2018. The VA also issued a proposed rule that establishes a new benefit for veterans to access urgent care services.