Veterans Community Care Program: Choices for Mesothelioma Treatment
Medical care for asbestos-related illnesses requires advanced equipment and cancer specialists. These resources are available at just a few Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. The Veterans Community Care Program provides high-quality mesothelioma care at local, non-VA facilities.
Assistance for Veterans Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
What Is the VA Community Care Program?
Community Care gives veterans access to healthcare through non-VA providers in the local community. Individuals must meet eligibility criteria to qualify for Community Care.
In general, veterans are eligible when the VA cannot provide the care they need. Through the program, healthcare is provided by community providers but paid for by the VA.
Community Care must be authorized by the VA before an eligible veteran can receive care from a local provider. Veterans are responsible for copays associated with non-service-connected care.
The U.S. government used asbestos in military facilities and equipment for many years. This put veterans at risk of exposure to this dangerous material. Veterans exposed to asbestos fibers are at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. Veterans may develop conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, among others.
Few VA medical centers offer the most effective treatment options for mesothelioma. The Veterans Community Care Program helps service members access quality healthcare despite these challenges.
Veterans Community Care and Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma requires aggressive treatment for the best outcomes. Physicians have achieved advances in mesothelioma life expectancy with treatments such as HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery. However, very few VA hospitals provide these treatments.
The following VA facilities offer specialized mesothelioma care:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radical pleurectomy and decortication (P/D)
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
Without treatment, mesothelioma prognosis is usually poor. With the latest treatment options, some mesothelioma patients live more than 15 years after diagnosis. Thus, veterans with this cancer need to receive treatment from the most experienced mesothelioma specialists. The Veterans Community Care Program can help them do that.
Who Is Eligible for the Veterans Community Care Program?
Veterans are eligible for Community Care (formerly known as Veterans Choice) if they meet any of the six criteria below.
VA Cannot Provide Specialized Care
If a veteran needs care not provided by any VA facility, they may qualify for Community Care.
Home State/Territory Lacks Full-Service VA Healthcare
Some states and U.S. territories do not have a full-service VA medical facility. If a veteran lives in one of these states or territories, they would be eligible for Community Care.
Veteran Meets Certain Grandfathered Distance Characteristics
The Community Care Program was preceded by the Veterans Choice Program. Veterans could qualify for care under the Choice Program by meeting distance criteria. Those eligibility criteria were grandfathered into the Community Care Program.
To qualify using distance, a veteran must:
- Have lived more than 40 miles from the closest VA medical facility on June 6, 2018
AND - Still live in a location more than 40 miles from the closest VA medical facility
AND - Currently live in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wyoming
VA Cannot Provide Care Within Time or Distance Constraints
Veterans qualify for the program if the VA cannot schedule an appointment within specified time standards for drive time and wait times.
Average Drive Times to Facilities:
- 30 minutes for primary care, mental health and non-institutional extended care
- 60 minutes for specialty care
Access Standards for Appointment Wait Times:
- 20 days for primary care, mental health and non-institutional extended care
- 28 days for specialty care
It Is in the Veteran’s Best Interest
If the referring physician believes local care is in the veteran’s best medical interest, the veteran qualifies for Community Care.
Existing VA Care Does Not Meet Quality Standards
The VA may determine a certain line of care does not meet quality standards. If a veteran needs this type of care, they qualify for Community Care.
What Is the Process for Receiving Community Care Benefits?
- Veterans must confirm eligibility for the program before scheduling appointments or treatment.
- The veteran or VA staff must schedule an appointment with a provider in the VA’s Community Care network.
- The veteran receives care.
- The provider sends a bill to a third-party administrator or the VA for payment.
- Prescription coverage is provided, but long-term prescriptions must be filled at a VA facility.
How Does the Veterans Community Care Program Compare to the Veterans Choice Program?
The Community Care Program is an updated version of the Veterans Choice Program (VCP). The VCP expired in 2019. However, its functions were replaced under the VA Mission Act of 2018. The Mission Act created the Veterans Community Care Program.
The eligibility criteria for Community Care appear wider than those of the VCP. However, the healthcare benefits are approximately the same.
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses may be eligible for other VA benefits. A mesothelioma lawyer can help veterans file a VA claim and investigate other compensation options.
Sources
Sugarbaker PH and Stuart OA. Unusually favorable outcome of 6 consecutive patients with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma treated with repeated doses of intraperitoneal paclitaxel. A case series. Surgical Oncology. June 2020;33:96-99. doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2020.01.009
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 10 Things About The Veterans Choice Program. Updated July 2017.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Boston Healthcare System.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Community Care.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.
Assistance for Veterans with Mesothelioma
Tara Strand specializes in writing content about mesothelioma and asbestos. She focuses on topics like mesothelioma awareness, research, treatment, asbestos trust funds and other advocacy efforts.
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Reviewed by
Jennifer Lucarelli
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Advisor
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.
