Who Can Treat Injured Veterans Outside of the VA?
There are a few different types of providers who can treat injured veterans outside of the VA hospital:
1. Community care providers:
- The VA has a network of community care providers who are contracted to provide veterans with care when the VA cannot provide it itself. These providers can include doctors, nurses, specialists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals.
- To be eligible for community care, veterans must meet certain criteria, such as having a service-connected disability or being enrolled in a VA priority group.
- Veterans can find a community care provider through the VA’s website or by calling the VA Community Care Center.
2. Emergency care providers:
- Veterans can receive emergency care at any hospital or urgent care center, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the VA healthcare system.
- The VA will typically pay for the cost of emergency care, even if it is provided by a non-VA provider.
- Veterans who receive emergency care at a non-VA facility should contact the VA as soon as possible to let them know what happened.
3. Private providers:
- Veterans can choose to receive care from a private provider, even if they are enrolled in the VA healthcare system. However, the VA will not typically pay for the cost of care provided by a private provider unless the veteran has a service-connected disability.
- Veterans who choose to receive care from a private provider should make sure that the provider is licensed and credentialed.
Here are some resources that can help you find a provider to treat injured veterans outside of the VA hospital:
- VA Community Care: https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/
- VA Find a Facility: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/allstate.asp
- National Resource Directory: https://www.nrd.gov/
- InnovA Technologies: https://innovallc.com/
It is important to note that the information above is general and may not apply to all veterans. Veterans should always contact the VA directly to discuss their specific situation and eligibility for care.