Networks change. We verify your specific VA Community Care Network plan before your first visit; call with your member ID and we will confirm benefits, copay and any referral or authorization requirements.
Also appears on cards as: VACCN, VA CCN, VA Community Care (Optum), TriWest, Veterans Community Care.
The VA Community Care Network lets eligible veterans receive care from non-VA providers when the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot offer an appointment within its access standards, when the nearest VA facility is too far, or when the VA and the veteran agree that community care is in the veteran's best interest. Florida and South Carolina fall in Community Care Network Region 3, which Optum administers on behalf of the VA. Care begins with a referral and authorization from your VA medical center or clinic, not with a call to our office. Once the VA issues the authorization, outpatient psychiatry, medication management and psychotherapy are covered for the number of visits and the period the referral specifies. Most veterans pay nothing to the community provider; any VA copay that applies is billed by the VA afterward.
Telehealth psychiatry is typically covered under a community care authorization when the referral allows it, and you must be located in Florida or South Carolina during the visit. For Deep TMS, the VA offers TMS at some of its own facilities, so a community care referral for TMS is issued when the VA cannot provide it within access standards; the referral must specifically name TMS, and the VA's clinical criteria for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder apply. Spravato is on the VA formulary and is typically provided through VA clinics, but a community care referral can cover Spravato induction and maintenance when the VA cannot deliver it locally, with REMS-certified administration required. Our staff coordinate with your VA care coordinator and Optum to make sure each service is on the authorization before it is scheduled.
What we check before your visit
- Whether your plan is in network at the office you chose and for telehealth
- Your copay or coinsurance for an evaluation and for follow-ups
- Whether a primary-care referral is required (common with HMO plans)
- Prior-authorization criteria for Deep TMS and Spravato, if those are being considered
Frequently asked questions
How do I use VA Community Care at Stedfast Psychiatry?
Ask your VA primary care provider or mental health team for a community care referral for psychiatry. Once the VA approves it, Optum or the VA sends the authorization to us and we schedule your first visit. You can name Stedfast Psychiatry as your preferred provider when you request the referral. Call us at (561) 402-3971 if you need help with the process.
Will I receive a bill for community care visits?
Not from us. Authorized community care is paid by the VA through Optum, and we bill them directly. If your VA priority group carries a copay for outpatient mental health visits, the VA bills that to you afterward, the same as for care at a VA facility. Visits outside the authorized dates or count can create a balance, so we track them for you.
Can I see a Stedfast provider by video under VA Community Care?
Yes, when the authorization allows telehealth, which most mental health referrals do. You need to be physically located in Florida or South Carolina during the visit. Video works well for medication follow-ups, and it can cut travel for veterans in rural parts of both states. Deep TMS and Spravato require in-person visits.
Does VA Community Care cover Deep TMS or Spravato?
It can, when your VA care team determines the VA cannot provide the treatment within its access standards and issues a referral that names the specific service. The VA applies its clinical criteria for treatment-resistant depression. Our staff work with your VA care coordinator and Optum to confirm the authorization covers each session before treatment begins.