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The VA Community Care Network

A Guide for Brain Injury Medicine Specialists

In California, independent Physician Assistants (PAs) can bill the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for services provided to veterans, but it’s essential to understand the regulations surrounding this process.

Welcome to Veterans Desk, your trusted resource for connecting qualified healthcare professionals with meaningful opportunities to serve veterans. This guide is tailored for specialists in Brain Injury Medicine, including physiatrists, neurologists, and rehabilitation physicians who diagnose and treat traumatic brain injury (TBI), acquired brain injury, and associated neurobehavioral conditions.

Whether you’re focused on early-stage recovery, long-term rehabilitation, or ongoing cognitive support, this guide provides everything you need to join the VA Community Care Network (CCN) and deliver expert care to veterans with brain injuries.

Step-by-Step Enrollment in the VA CCN

Verify Your Credentials

  • Hold a valid state license in PM&R, Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, or Brain Injury Medicine.
  • Maintain board certification in one or more relevant specialties.
  • For transitioning military providers, submit DD214 and military credentials for verification.

Prepare Required Documents

  • Valid state license(s) and board certification(s).
  • Updated CV/resume and completed W-9 form.
  • Proof of malpractice insurance.
  • Documentation of experience treating TBI or neurorehabilitation populations.

Submit Your Application

Complete Mandatory Training

Visit the VA training portal to complete the following:

  • HIPAA and VA-specific privacy trainin
  • Clinical documentation and coordination training
  • EHR or referral system orientation
  • Educational training 

Credentialing & Practice Review

  • The VA or third-party administrator will verify your credentials.
  • Your practice may be reviewed for accessibility and compliance with federal care standards.

Finalize Your Contract

  • You will receive a formal provider agreement with reimbursement terms.
  • Once signed, you may begin accepting veteran referrals for TBI and rehabilitation care.
VA CCN Enrollment Page
Join the Network – TriWest

Why Brain Injury Medicine Matters to Veterans

Veterans are at high risk for brain injuries resulting from blast exposure, combat trauma, falls, and motor vehicle accidents. These injuries can lead to long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges such as memory impairment, executive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, and reduced mobility.

As a brain injury medicine specialist, your role in the VA CCN includes:

  • Providing inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services for TBI.
  • Managing long-term recovery plans and assistive technologies.
  • Offering consultative care for post-concussive syndrome, seizures, and neurobehavioral concerns.
  • Collaborating with PT, OT, SLP, neuropsychologists, and social workers.

Key Benefits of Joining the VA CCN

  • Serve a High-Need Population: Veterans with brain injuries often need long-term, multidisciplinary care.

  • Tele-Rehabilitation Options: Deliver remote care for follow-up, medication management, and counseling.

  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Join VA mental health and rehab teams for whole-person care.

  • Streamlined Reimbursement: Get paid for covered services, including evaluation, therapy, and follow-ups.

  • Flexible Care Settings: Provide services in clinics, hospitals, or veterans’ homes.

Bridging the Gap for Veterans

Educational Support & Career Growth

  • Access VA-sponsored CME programs in neurorehabilitation, PTSD, and cognitive recovery.
  • Participate in TBI research initiatives or DoD-funded collaborative care pilots.
  • Explore eligibility for student loan forgiveness or provider incentive programs.

Transitioning from Military Service

  • Military neurologists or PM&R physicians should explore expedited credential conversion.
  • Emphasize any combat-related TBI care experience or neuropsychiatric training in your application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I lead interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams within the CCN?

Yes. Physicians may serve as medical directors or supervising providers in VA-authorized rehab programs.

Yes. These services are often authorized for veterans with moderate to severe TBI.

Yes. Telehealth is supported for cognitive support, counseling, and medication follow-up care.

Yes. Depending on clinical need and authorization, home visits and mobile rehab services are covered.

HIPAA Compliance Disclaimer

Veterans Desk is not a HIPAA-covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and is not subject to HIPAA privacy or security requirements. We do not collect, store, or transmit Protected Health Information (PHI) on behalf of veterans, healthcare providers, or any other party.

Our platform operates solely as an informational and networking resource. We offer membership access to a publicly viewable directory of VA Community Care Network (CCN) providers, along with educational links and resources. We do not provide direct medical referrals, coordinate patient care, or act as an intermediary between veterans and healthcare providers in any clinical capacity.

All communications, medical information, or personal data exchanged between a veteran and a provider occur outside of Veterans Desk and at the sole discretion and responsibility of the parties involved. Veterans Desk does not monitor, manage, or store these exchanges.

By using this site, you acknowledge and agree that:

  1. Veterans Desk is not your healthcare provider or representative.

     

  2. Veterans Desk does not give medical advice, make treatment recommendations, or guarantee provider performance.

     

  3. Any medical or personal information you choose to share with a provider is done independently and outside our control.

     

If you require medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, please contact a licensed healthcare provider directly or use your VA-approved care coordination channels.

No Medical Advice

All content provided by Veterans Desk, including but not limited to articles, guides, directory listings, and linked resources, is for informational and educational purposes only. Veterans Desk does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and nothing on this site should be interpreted as such.

Use of this website does not create a patient–provider relationship between you and Veterans Desk, its staff, or any healthcare provider listed on the site. We strongly encourage all veterans and users to consult directly with a licensed healthcare professional or their VA-approved care coordinator before making any decisions related to their health, treatments, or medical care.

Veterans Desk makes no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of any information provided. Reliance on any information found on this site is solely at your own risk.