Hi there, if you’re a veteran or have one in your life, this change could be a game-changer. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently made a major change in how you can obtain health care, specifically from physicians outside the VA network. It’s a change that could save time, stress, and maybe even hasten treatment.
No more extra approval for outside care
Starting today, when your VA doctor refers you to a non-VA physician, that’s it—you won’t have to wait for a second approval by a VA administrator. This is a major departure from the former process, when such referrals had to be approved and authorized before you could go ahead. That additional step is eliminated, at least for the next two years.
This shift comes from the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden in December.
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A step in the right direction for greater flexibility
VA Secretary Doug Collins explains that this is all about ease. “We’re making it even easier for veterans to get their health care when and where it’s most convenient for them,” he said. It’s just that simple: if your doctor thinks you need treatment outside, that’s all that’s needed.
This is especially important because earlier legislation—the VA Choice Act of 2014 and the Mission Act of 2019—was already working on the goal of giving veterans better access to care outside VA facilities. But referral review has long been a major roadblock. It was even suggested by some critics that it was being used to intentionally delay or deny community care.
Real-life impact on veterans
More frequently than not, the veterans were caught in the middle. Veterans reported to need alcohol or mental health treatment were sent to wait, sometimes even if there was a non-VA, local option with a bed available, because a VA center had a bed elsewhere, say 100 miles away.
One of the lawmakers, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, clarified that such a delay is not in the best interest of the veterans. “VA insists there is no wrong door for veterans to receive care, but we continue to hear about doors closed, secret doors, and doors that do not exist at all,” she testified during a congressional hearing.
What’s next?
For now, this alteration remains effective for two years. During that time, the VA will monitor how it unfolds and report back to Congress. Meanwhile, the department has already started training staff to implement the new process properly and get veterans the care they require sooner.
Still, concerns remain.
The VA needs to more carefully track the quality and price of care at non-VA hospitals, according to some legislators. Others worry about finding the right balance between community care and more traditional VA care.
But for you, if you’re a veteran, here’s the bottom line: it should now be easier to get a referral and be able to use it, without getting tied up in red tape. Contact me if you need assistance in determining whether you qualify under this change.
