Community Care Network
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to providing eligible Veterans with the care they need when and where they need it. Many programs exist today for Veterans to receive such care; however, the multiple programs and eligibility requirements are confusing for Veterans, community providers, and VA staff.
In an effort to streamline VA’s community care programs, the president signed the VA MISSION Act into legislation on June 6, 2018, providing more choices and robust care coordination for Veterans using one consolidated program instead of multiple programs. A significant component of having one method for Veterans to receive care from community providers, although not dependent on the legislation, are the Community Care Network (CCN) contracts to be awarded to as many as four contractors covering an established set of regional boundaries to ensure health care services and resources are available to our diverse Veteran population.
To establish the new CCN, VA released a request for proposal for private sector companies to develop and administer regional networks of high-performing licensed health care providers who will work together with VA providers and practitioners to provide medical, dental, and pharmacy services to Veterans who are unable to receive care at local VA medical centers. The CCN contracts were developed with a focus on transparency, accountability, quality, and increased communications between VA and Veterans.
Fact Sheet: Community Care Network Community Care Network Regions Map
CCN Frequently Asked Questions
The Community Care Network is a set of contracts awarded to as many as four private sector contractors to develop and administer regional networks of high-performing licensed health care providers covering an established set of regional boundaries aligned to state boundaries to provide local flexibility and increased access to care. Each regional network will serve as the contract vehicle for VA to purchase care in the community. The CCN contracts were developed with a focus on transparency, accountability, quality, and increased communications between VA and Veterans.
During the transition to CCN, community providers should continue to partner with TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest) as they expand their national network of community providers. TriWest’s community care network serves as a critical bridge between now and when CCN is deployed nationwide to ensure Veterans continue to receive the care they need. The selected contractor for each region of CCN will reach out to you for enrolling in their network based on a deployment plan.
As part of VA’s modernization efforts, the CCN was developed with a focus on transparency, accountability, quality, and increased communications between VA, providers, and Veterans to improve Veterans' access to care.
No, there is not an effort underway to privatize VA; however, we recognize that while the health care landscape is constantly changing, VA’s unique population and broad geographic demands will continue to require partnerships with community providers to continue our long-standing tradition of offering community care programs since 1945.
No, CCN is not a program with eligibility requirements like the Veterans Choice Program and the Patient-Centered Community Care Program. The CCN is the contract vehicle VA uses to buy care in the community for Veterans.
VA will continue to determine Veteran eligibility under CCN as it does currently for the Patient-Centered Community Care and Veterans Choice Program contracts while CCN contractors will be required to confirm eligibility as part of the new contract.
Veterans will be able to access the list of community providers participating in their region’s provider network.
Under the CCN, community providers will submit a referral request directly to VA when a Veteran requires care beyond what is included on the original referral.
VA will directly manage Veteran customer service touchpoints while the contractors in each region will support community provider and VA inquiries.
