VA Community Care Network
When the VA can’t provide the care you need, it may approve care from a community provider outside the VA.
Who may qualify
You must be enrolled in or eligible for VA health care. You also need approval from your VA care team first, except in certain cases like urgent or emergency care.
At least one of these must also be true:
- You need a service the VA doesn’t provide at any facility.
- Your state or territory has no full-service VA facility.
- You and your VA provider agree it’s in your best medical interest.
- The VA can’t provide the service in a way that meets its quality standards.
- The VA can’t meet its drive and wait time standards for your care.
Drive and wait time standards
- Primary care, mental health, and extended outpatient care: 30-minute average drive or 20-day wait
- Specialty care: 60-minute average drive or 28-day wait
How to get started
Talk with your VA care team before you see a community provider. In New Orleans, call (800) 935‑8387.
If VA approves community care, you’ll see the in-network provider named in your referral.
Urgent care
Enrolled veterans who’ve had care at VA or an in-network provider in the past 24 months can use urgent care without a referral, for minor problems like strep throat, sprains, and ear infections. Family members can’t use this benefit.
- Confirm the provider is in VA’s network. If it isn’t, you may have to pay the full cost.
- Bring a government-issued photo ID and your VA urgent care billing card.
- Tell them you want to use your VA urgent care benefit, and don’t pay a copay at the visit.
- Need help at a Louisiana provider? Call (888) 901‑6609.
Emergency care at a non-VA hospital
If you think your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You don’t need to check with VA first.
- VA must be told within 72 hours of when your care starts. Ask the hospital to call (844) 724‑7842. You or someone helping you can call if they don’t.
- Only emergency departments count. Urgent care centers don’t.
- VA often covers emergency mental health care, even if you aren’t enrolled, when you meet its service requirements. Tell staff you’re a veteran and ask them to contact VA.
Read VA’s full emergency care rules
Costs and bills
You may owe a VA copay, the same as for care at a VA facility. VA bills you for it separately. If a community provider sends you a bill, call VA at (877) 881‑7618, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET (TTY: 711).
In an emergency, call 911. If you are in crisis, dial 988, then press 1. Aspire Community Care is not part of the VA and does not provide medical care.