[MILRETVET-INFO] Veterans Choice Program
- From: RETVET-INFO@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- To: <RetVet-Info@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:24:53 -0600
Veterans Choice Program
Connecting you to timely and convenient access to health care in your community
About the Program
Many Veterans will now have the option to receive non-VA health care rather than
waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility.
Beginning November 5, 2014, the new Choice Program will begin to cover non-VA
care for eligible Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Veterans are eligible if
any of these situations apply to you:
* You have been told by your local VA medical facility that you will need
to wait more than 30 days from your preferred date or the date medically
determined by your physician
* Your current residence is more than 40 miles from the closest VA health
care facility
* You need to travel by plane or boat to the VA medical facility closest
to your home
* You face a geographic challenge, such as extensive distances around
water or other geologic formations, such as mountains, which presents a
significant travel hardship
Every Veteran will receive a letter and a Choice Card in the mail with details
about the program. Veterans will be eligible for the program and receive cards
in three phases:
1. Veterans who may live more than 40 miles from a VA facility.
2. Veterans who are currently waiting for an appointment longer than 30
days from their preferred date or the date determined to be medically necessary
by their physician.
3. All remaining Veterans enrolled for VA healthcare who may be eligible
for the Choice Program in the future.
To set up an appointment with a non-VA provider, call the VA at 866-606-8198 and
we will work with you to ensure you are approved for care in your community.
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/how_to_get_started.asp> How to Get Started
Additional Program Information
* The Choice Program does not impact your existing VA health care or any
other VA benefit.
* If you are satisfied with your wait time at a VA facility and wish to
continue waiting for VA care, there is nothing you need to do at this time.
* Non-VA care is only covered by VA for medical needs which have been
approved by your VA physician. We can happily schedule an appointment for other
medical needs, but the we can only cover the cost of care related to your
VA-approved health needs.
* The Veteran Choice Program is part of the Veterans Access, Choice, and
Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA).
<http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apps/choice/> Check Your Eligibility
How to Get Started
To get started, you'll need to pick a non-VA provider, gather some info and give
us a call in order to set up an appointment. We will work with you to ensure you
are approved for care in your community and schedule you with a local care
provider of your choosing.
Steps to Getting an Appointment
1. Decide which non-VA health care provider you would like to use.
Search the list of approved care providers in your community.
2. Make sure you have information on hand about any other health insurance
coverage you may have.
3. Call 1-866-606-8198 to make sure you qualify + schedule an appointment.
When you call, we will walk you through the following steps:
* You will be asked to enter your ZIP code, and first and last name.
* We will check to make sure you are eligible for this program.
* We will check which of your needs are covered by the VA.
* You will be asked for your address and the name of your preferred non-VA
provider. Unfortunately, not all providers will be covered so if your preferred
provider is not available, we will recommend other providers in your area.
* We will then work with you to schedule an appointment.
This hotline is exclusively for making sure you are eligible for the Choice
Program and setting up a non-VA care appointment. If you have questions about
other aspects of your VA medical care or want to learn more about enrolling in
VA health services, please call 1-877-222-VETS or visit www.va.gov/health
<http://www.va.gov/health> .
Veterans Choice Program Overview
On August 7, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Veterans Access, Choice
and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) ("Choice Act"). Technical
revisions to the Choice Act were made on September 26, 2014, when the President
signed into law the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of
2014 (Public Law 113-175).
VA's goal continues to be to provide timely, high-quality healthcare for
Veterans. Veterans and VA employees nationwide understand the need for reform,
and VA is committed to putting these reforms into place.
As this process continues to move forward, VA will work with other Departments,
Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that
provisions are implemented as quickly and efficiently as possible.
* An Open Letter to America
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Open-Letter-to-Veterans.pdf> 's
Veterans from Secretary Bob McDonald ~ November 5, 2014
* Download the full text of the law
<http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-113publ146/pdf/PLAW-113publ146.pdf>
* Download a summary of the law
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Choice-Act-Summary.pdf>
For press inquiries and more information about the Choice Act, please contact
the Office of Public & Intergovernmental Affairs Media Relations
<mailto:va.media.relations@xxxxxx> .
Media
* VA Accepting Provider Applications to Extend Program for Veterans with
Traumatic Brain Injury <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2648>
* VA Expands Fry Scholarship to Surviving Spouses of Servicemembers Who
Died on Active Duty <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2647>
* VA Awards Contract for Independent Assessment of Health Care to
Non-Profit Firm <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2638>
* VA to Hold Industry Day to Support Implementation of Veterans Choice Act
<http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2629>
Reports
* VA Report to Congress on the definition of wait-time goals for purposes
of the Veterans Choice Program
<http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/docs/VA_Report_Section101-PL_113-146-Final.pdf>
Fact Sheets
Implementation Progress
* Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act Progress Report: VA
Accomplishments from Passage to Veterans Day
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Veterans-Day-VACAA-Progress-Fact-Shee
t.pdf>
Increasing Access and Program Expansions:
* Expansion of Fry Scholarship Eligibility (Section 701)
<http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/factsheets/Fry_Scholarship_Expansion_Fac
tsheet.pdf>
* Fry Scholarship Application Information
<http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/>
* Veterans Choice Program (Section 101-103, 105-106)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Choice-Program-Fact-Sheet-Final.pdf>
* Extended Care for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (Section 501)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Assisted-Living-Pilot-Prog
ram.pdf>
* Services for Those Affected by Military Sexual Trauma (Section 401-403)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Military-Sexual-Trauma.pdf
>
* Improvement of Veterans
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Mobile-Vet-Centers.pdf> '
Access to Mobile Vet Centers and Mobile Medical Centers (Section 204)
* Increase of Graduate Medical Education Residency Positions (Section
301b)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Residency-Program.pdf>
* Twenty-Seven New Major Facility Leases Nationwide (Sections 601-602)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Major-Facility-Leases.pdf>
* Greater Public Access to VA Health Care Information and Metrics
(Sections 206-207)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Publicly-Available-Data.pd
f>
* Patient Access Data Webpage <http://www.va.gov/health/access-audit.asp>
* Payment of Benefits Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill-
Active Duty (Section 702)
<http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/factsheets/Section_702_Factsheet.pdf>
Actions, Collaborations, and Business Improvements:
* New Medical Center Employee Training Program on Appointment Scheduling
Process (Section 303)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Scheduling-System-Training
.pdf>
* Modification of VA Medical Center Employee Performance Plans (Section
205)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Performance-Plans.pdf>
* Contracts with Independent Entities to Assess VA
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Independent-Assessments.pd
f> 's Delivery of Care and Services (Section 201)
* Technology Task Force Review of VA Scheduling System (Section 203)
<http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/documents/Fact-Sheet-Technology-Task-Force.pdf>
SOURCE: VA.gov Website at
http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/factsheets_and_details.asp
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