Expanded VA Same-Day Care
The VA is now offering same-day urgent care appointments for
both primary and mental health care at all of its medical facilities across the
country. With this recent change, the VA now offers the following same-day
services:
- face-to-face appointments with a primary
or mental health care provider
- face-to-face appointments with a
specialist
- phone calls with a nurse for
advice
- telehealth visits with physicians
and other providers
- filling prescriptions
For a full list of same-day services offered in your area, check
out the VA’s interactive map.
Emergency Care Reimbursements
The VA just revised its regulations governing reimbursement
for emergency treatment received at a non-VA facility for non-service-connected
conditions. This change will affect claims pending on or after April 8, 2016,
as well as new claims.
The VA will start with claims for reimbursement of costs not
covered or partially paid by other health insurance (OHI), which could include
ambulances, hospital charges, or professional fees.
This change is in response to a 2016 US Court of Appeals for
Veterans’ Claims case in which the court ruled that the VA could not refuse to
reimburse veterans when OHI paid part of their treatment costs. However, by
law, the VA may still not cover co-pay costs, deductibles, or cost shares that
their OHI requires.
For more information about this ruling, please visit the VA’s
page for Emergency Medical Care.
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