As of the year 2021, the number of U.S. Veterans is estimated to be over 19 million by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans, especially those who have witnessed war, have additional health considerations. PTSD and substance abuse are prevalent co-occurring problems within this population. The prevalence of drug addiction disorders among Veterans is estimated to be as high as one in ten.
Unfortunately, some Veterans may be reluctant to seek drug misuse treatment via the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). That might be due to a number of causes, including excessive waiting times or an inconvenient location. In order to ensure that veterans may get the treatment they need when they need it, the VA has established the VA Community treatment Network (VACCN). The VA’s Community treatment programme facilitates access to lifesaving medical treatment for veterans by linking them with private clinics that collaborate with the VA. The Community treatment Network offers a wide variety of services that can help veterans get well, from medical treatment to mental health care to drug and alcohol rehab.
What Is the VA Community Care Network (CCN)?
Veterans can find private healthcare providers that accept VA health insurance and are part of the VA Community Care Network. Therefore, in the event that VA hospitals are too busy or lack the necessary types of programmes to satisfy a veteran’s medical needs, these commercial Community Care partner institutions can step in and offer veterans with healthcare.
The VACCN’s six different regions collectively serve all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Although not yet fully implemented, its goal is to become the VA’s preferred network for acquiring treatment for veterans from community clinicians. The numbers reveal that it is becoming increasingly popular. The percentage of visitors attributed to the VACCN rose from 22.6% in 2015 to 55.3% in 2018.3
According to the VA Mission Act, copayments are a possibility for veterans receiving these services. However, they will not incur any out-of-pocket costs for copayments or deductibles at the time of service. Instead, they will be paid the same way as any other VA patient for any treatments received from a CCN provider.
What Are the Benefits of the VA Community Care Network?
The VACCN was established in response to the demand for a robust, licenced community care programme for Veterans who lack access to care at VA medical facilities. The VACCN was established to improve communication, collaboration, and transparency among VA facilities, preferred providers, veterans, and TPAs.
For veterans in need of specialised care for drug misuse, the VACCN will provide the following advantages:
- Services for qualified veterans who live too far from a VA hospital have been expanded.
- Improved quality of treatment for veterans thanks to collaboration between VA and TPAs in the community care programme.
- TPAs will be held more accountable for ensuring that VA recommended providers are meeting the requirements of veterans and achieving established performance benchmarks.
- Care coordination is enhanced because of the VACCN’s ability to provide direct health information sharing between the VA and preferred community providers.
- The method through which VA employees send their patients to outside medical facilities has been vastly improved.
- Veterans now have the option of arranging their own visits or receiving assistance from the VA to do so.
- TPAs will be in charge of billing the VA for reimbursement and paying claims submitted by VA-preferred providers, making for a more efficient payment system.
ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT
Verifications of Eligibility:
If a Veteran lives too far from a VA medical facility or if the VA provider does not offer the care they require, the VA Community Care Network can help. VA evaluates each case individually to determine the best course of action.
Providers should check for a valid VA referral before beginning care for a Veteran, as the Veteran’s eligibility for care from a community physician may vary depending on the type of care requested.
As a VA CCN provider, it is your duty to check the Veteran’s identity before beginning treatment. Eligibility may be verified using the Veteran’s enrollment card and a valid VA referral. Verify if the services being supplied fall within the SEOC by looking at the dates, places, and other details mentioned in the recommendation.
Time-Eligible Veterans:
Appointment wait times for VA hospital treatment, medical care, and dental care all have to meet certain standards set by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Veterans are considered Time-Eligible for community care if they are unable to make an appointment within those wait-time targets or within the clinically required periods (whichever is shorter).
If the necessary treatment or services are not available in a nearby VA Medical Centre, the Veteran may still qualify for these benefits. This also applies if the Veteran has a compelling need to obtain the service or treatment somewhere other than a VAMC.
Distance-Eligible Veterans:
Veterans who are qualified for community care due to geographic factors, such as an excessive burden or any other exceptional condition judged legitimate by VA for delivering treatment in the community, are referred to as “Distance-Eligible Veterans.”
How much does care in the community cost?
Care provided by the VACCN is not uniformly priced because it depends on factors such as the individual’s condition and the community health centre they use. The amount owed is also subject to the veteran’s documented income in the VA health care system.9 The copayment will be billed to the veteran’s insurance later. The veteran is instead invoiced for the cost of care after it has been provided.4 If veterans want to know how much their care will cost, they should talk to the VA and other appropriate community care partners.
Challenges Veterans Face When Leaving the Military
Veterans may rely on the VA for assistance while they readjust to civilian life. Many veterans, though, continue to struggle with readjustment issues. Veterans encounter a wide range of difficulties when leaving the armed forces.
1. Unemployment
When they get back home, many veterans have a hard time finding jobs. A common career path after high school is enlistment in the armed forces. That’s why they can be lacking the credentials required for numerous employment opportunities. Those who have served in the military and are now having trouble finding work might get assistance from the Veterans Administration.
2. Connection to Oneself
Veterans who have served their nation bravely should be commended. However, many of them have trouble finding their place in the world and defining who they are. They may be experiencing low self-esteem due to the loss of their once-prestigious position.
3. Homelessness
Veterans make up an estimated 30% of the homeless population. Many veterans are at danger of being homeless because they struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues. For some veterans, the cost of housing is more than their income.
4. Disabilities of the Body
Combat causes serious injuries to many service members. Combat may result in a wide variety of physical traumas, including amputation, scarring, and deformity. These bodily impairments may make it much more challenging to find gainful employment. Low self-esteem is another possible result.
5. Psychiatric Illness
Veterans have a significantly greater prevalence of depression and suicide. There is a societal stigma associated with seeking treatment, which is why many people do not do so. One of the things that might prevent people from seeking help for their mental health is the expense involved.
Veterans' Assistance
Homes and the Homeless:
VASH Program -
Rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programme and VA case management and clinical care are brought together in the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) programme for homeless Veterans. Veterans can access these programmes through local VA outreach clinics and VA medical centres.
SSVF -
In order to help extremely low-income Veteran families find or remain in permanent housing, the VA’s SSVF programme provides funding to private non-profit organisations and consumer cooperatives. The grantees do community outreach, handle cases, and help eligible Veteran families get VA and other benefits. To further assist Veteran families in maintaining or acquiring permanent housing, grantees may also provide time-limited payments to third parties.
Homeless Veteran Stand Downs -
Homeless Veterans can get help with things like food, housing, clothes, health checks, and VA Social Security benefits counselling at these one- to three-day sessions called “Stand Downs.” Referrals to further services, such as medical care, housing options, employment, drug abuse treatment, and mental health counselling, are also available to veterans. Stand Downs are coordinated efforts by local Veterans Affairs medical centres, other government organisations, and nonprofits serving the homeless in the neighbourhood.
PATH –
PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) helps homeless Veterans find stable housing and get back on their feet after experiencing homelessness. It is imperative that the persons we assist have access to high-quality supporting services in order to transition into and maintain permanent housing.
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans -
Hundreds of thousands of homeless Veterans receive emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job placement and training assistance, legal aid, and case management support each year from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), a resource and technical assistance centre for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state, and federal agencies.
Employment:
Career Services for Veterans and Veterans with Disabilities -
Vocational rehabilitation and employment programmes are available for veterans who need assistance finding work or advancing in their current position. Veterans who are seriously handicapped and unable to work in a regular job setting may be eligible for independent living services or other forms of assistance.
Veterans Affairs Employment Programmes for the Homeless -
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Programme is a nationwide vocational programme that consists of three distinct programmes designed to help formerly homeless Veterans find and maintain competitive employment. The minimum pay for CWT veterans is the higher of the federal minimum wage and the state minimum wage.
American Employment Services -
Using America’s Service Locator, people may learn more about the services offered by their neighbourhood American Job Centres. The website lists local resources for obtaining unemployment benefits, advancing one’s profession, or furthering one’s education.
Career Centre for Veterans of the United States Navy -
Postings from businesses all around the United States who are looking to hire Veterans.
Veteran-Owned & Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SBA)
The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers services to help Veterans and service-disabled Veterans establish and develop their businesses.
Addiction:
"SAMHSA" -
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) coordinates national public health initiatives to improve Americans’ mental and emotional well-being. Substance addiction and mental illness have a significant negative effect on local communities, which is why SAMHSA was created. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) spearheads initiatives to improve mental health care for military personnel and their families.
AddictionResource - Substance Abuse and Veterans:
Perspectives on the Issues at Hand: Addiction Resource was established in 2014 with the goal of connecting people in recovery with one another and directing them towards the best available treatment options. Their mission is to aid addicts and their loved ones in finding the support they need to continue on the path to recovery and ultimately beat addiction for good.
Conclusion
An integral part of helping individuals who have served our nation is showing compassion for them. The mission of the VA’s Compassionate treatment programme is to ensure that all veterans get the greatest quality treatment in a compassionate environment.
When it comes to providing veterans with sensitive care, community care providers contracted by the VA are invaluable. They focus on the specific requirements of each veteran and tailor their care accordingly. In addition, they put in effort to guarantee that vets have everything they need to live happy, productive lives.
Healthcare practitioners are not the only ones obligated to treat veterans with compassion. We can all do our part by remembering the veterans among us and taking the time to express our gratitude for their service and sacrifice. Doing so will help foster a society that values its veterans and recognises their sacrifices. Take advantage of the available services and compassionate treatment if you are a veteran or know a veteran. Keep in mind that there are those who are concerned about you and are willing to lend a helping hand. Let’s collaborate to give our veterans the respect they’ve earned.
