The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a policy change aimed at improving health care access for veterans. Starting immediately, the VA will extend community care authorizations to one year for 30 specific types of medical services.
This update allows veterans referred by the VA to receive uninterrupted treatment from community providers for 12 months before needing reauthorization. The previous system required some specialty referrals to be reevaluated every 90 to 180 days, which sometimes led to interruptions or delays in care.
According to the VA, this adjustment is expected to reduce administrative burdens both for veterans and community providers. It is intended to give providers more flexibility in managing patient care and allow veterans to focus on their health without frequent paperwork.
“No Veteran should have their health care disrupted by red tape,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “This change means better continuity of care, which leads to better health outcomes. It also improves convenience for Veterans and cuts administrative work for VA staff and community care partners.”
The new yearlong authorizations apply to a range of specialties including cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, mental health outpatient services, pain management, podiatry, pulmonary medicine, sleep medicine, urology and several others.
Veterans seeking information about how these changes may impact their individual situations are encouraged to contact their local VA Medical Center Community Care Office.
