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How To Become Hospice and Palliative Medicine Provider

A Guide for Hospice and Palliative Medicine Providers
Enroll via Optum →
Enroll via TriWest

DCP Hub · Clinical Education

Hospice & Palliative Care

Welcome to Veterans Desk,your trusted resource for connecting compassionate healthcare professionals with opportunities to serve our nation’s veterans. This guide is designed for hospice agencies, palliative care specialists, and board-certified physicians seeking to join the VA Community Care Network (CCN) to provide life-affirming, whole-person care to veterans facing serious or terminal illnesses.

Step-by-Step Enrollment in the VA CCN

1

Verify Your Credentials

  • Physicians: Must hold board certification in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or another relevant field, with a subspecialty in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
  • Agencies: Must be Medicare-certified and state-licensed as a hospice provider.
  • Advanced Practice Providers (APPs): Must hold a valid state license and documented hospice or palliative care training.

2

Prepare Required Documents

  • Proof of licensure, Medicare certification (for agencies), and professional certifications
  • Malpractice insurance coverage
  • Agency accreditation or compliance records
  • W-9 and billing details

3

Submit Your Application

Apply through the appropriate VA CCN regional portal:

Optum — Regions 1–3 →
TriWest — Regions 4–5 →

4

Complete Required Training

VA onboarding may include:

  • Suicide prevention and end-of-life care modules
  • Coordination with VA’s Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and hospice partners
  • Documentation and care planning standards
    Access the VA Provider Training Portal to complete the required modules.
VHA TRAIN Portal →

5

Credentialing & Compliance Review

  • VA will verify your credentials, certifications, and program capabilities.
  • Facility reviews may assess your agency’s readiness for veteran-focused care delivery.

     

6

Final Contract

  • Once approved, you will receive a formal contract outlining care responsibilities and reimbursement rates.
  • After signing, you may begin serving veterans as a CCN hospice or palliative provider
VA CCN Enrollment Page →

Why Hospice and Palliative Medicine Matters to Veterans

About This Specialty

Veterans with life-limiting conditions deserve care that honors their values, alleviates suffering, and supports their families. Many face complex symptom burdens or late-stage illnesses where comfort, dignity, and clear communication about care goals are paramount. Hospice and palliative providers bring interdisciplinary expertise that improves quality of life and helps veterans and their loved ones navigate difficult transitions with respect and clarity.

As a CCN-enrolled hospice or palliative care provider, your role includes:

  • Managing pain, breathlessness, and distressing symptoms through evidence-based approaches.
  • Guiding veterans and families through advance care planning and end-of-life decision-making.
  • Offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support.
  • Coordinating with VA physicians, mental health professionals, and long-term care teams.

Key Benefits of Joining the VA CCN

Deliver Meaningful Care

Help veterans experience peace and dignity at the end of life through home-based, facility-based, or inpatient care.

Collaborate Across Disciplines

Work with VA social workers, chaplains, mental health teams, and caregivers.

Streamlined Reimbursement

Receive payment for hospice consults, nursing care, palliative interventions, bereavement support, and interdisciplinary coordination.

Continuity of Support

Provide longitudinal care across settings while upholding the veteran’s goals and preferences.

Career Support & Military Pathways

Educational Support & Professional Growth

  • The VA supports clinical education and workforce development in hospice and palliative care:
  • GI Bill® – For nursing, medicine, social work, and chaplaincy training
  • Vocational Rehabilitation (VR&E) – Career transition support for veterans
  • Yellow Ribbon Program – Tuition assistance for graduate-level training
  • Top-Up Program – Supplementary funding for approved education paths Explore opportunities through VA Education and Training.

VA Loan Repayment Programs

  • Hospice and palliative care professionals working with veterans may qualify for student loan relief:
  • Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – For physicians, nurses, and social workers in shortage areas
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – For nonprofit and VA-contracted providers

Transitioning from Military Service

  • If you served in a clinical or leadership role during active duty:
  • Convert military healthcare credentials to civilian licensure.
  • Highlight your experience with complex care planning, trauma-informed communication, or leadership in military palliative care units.
  • Veterans entering hospice or palliative careers may use education benefits or apply for expedited credentialing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. VA covers hospice services at home, in contracted inpatient facilities, or VA Medical Centers, when authorized through VA Care Coordination.

Yes. Reimbursement is available for palliative consults involving physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, or chaplains.

Yes. The VA emphasizes family-centered care and reimburses for caregiver education, counseling, and bereavement support services.

Ready to Join

Start Your VA CCN Enrollment Today

Licensed Hospice and Palliative Medicine Providers can begin the enrollment process in the VA Community Care Network through Optum (Regions 1–3) or TriWest (Regions 4–5). Veterans Desk provides education. The VA’s administrators handle enrollment.

Enroll via Optum →
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Disclaimer. Veterans Desk is a Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is not a HIPAA-covered entity and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any federal agency. All content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or clinical advice. Veterans Desk does not collect, store, or transmit Protected Health Information (PHI). Enrollment eligibility, reimbursement terms, and credentialing requirements are determined solely by the VA, Optum, and TriWest — verify current requirements directly with those organizations. Emergency: 911 | Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (Press 1) | Text 838255.