About Veterans Affairs (VA)
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides healthcare to eligible veterans through VA facilities and community care programs. The VA Community Care Program (formerly Choice) allows veterans to receive care from non-VA providers when VA facilities cannot provide timely or geographically accessible care. Community care claims are processed through TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Optum Serve (formerly Health Net Federal Services) depending on region.
How fast does Veterans Affairs (VA) pay?
VA Community Care claims are subject to the Prompt Payment Act, requiring payment within 30 days of receiving a clean claim. In practice, community care claims frequently experience delays of 45 to 90 days due to authorization verification, medical record requirements, and administrative processing.
Common denial and billing issues.
- Community Care authorization not obtained before rendering service
- Authorization expired before service rendered
- Claim submitted to wrong network administrator (TriWest vs. Optum)
- Medical records not submitted with claim when required
- Service not covered under community care authorization terms
- Veteran eligibility not confirmed prior to service
- Incorrect billing address for the veteran's VA facility
Prior authorization requirements.
All VA Community Care services require a referral and authorization from the veteran's VA provider or the VA scheduling team. Providers must be credentialed in the Community Care Network before rendering services. Authorization numbers must appear on all claims submitted.
How Copay works with Veterans Affairs (VA).
VA Community Care claims are eligible for Copay purchase. Given the VA's frequently extended reimbursement timelines of 45 to 90 days, Copay's next-business-day deposit provides significant cash flow acceleration for providers with high VA community care volume.
Stop waiting on Veterans Affairs (VA).
Eligible claims are purchased and funded the next business day.