Access standards for the VA's newly revised community care program will be based on the average time it takes to drive to a physician and the average time it takes to receive an appointment, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday.

The standards, which are scheduled to take effect in June, guide when veterans can seek care outside the VA. The VA is seeking public comment on its proposed standards and urgent care benefits during a public comment period.

The program falls under the MISSION Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in September 2018.

“Most Americans can already choose the health care providers that they trust, and President Trump promised that veterans would be able to do the same,” said VA Sec. Robert Wilkie in a statement. “With VA's new access standards, the future of the VA health care system will lie in the hands of veterans - exactly where it should be.”
Eligibility criteria and final standards are based on VA's analysis of all the best practices in government and private sector, and then tailored to meet the needs of veterans, according to the VA.

Access standard will be based on average drive time and appointment wait times.

For primary care, mental health, and non-institutional extended care services, VA is proposing a 30-minute average drive time standard.

For specialty care, VA is proposing a 60-minute average drive time standard.

VA is proposing appointment wait-time standards of 20 days for primary care, mental health care, and non-institutional extended care services, and 28 days for specialty care from the date of request with certain exceptions.

Veterans who can't access care within those standards would be able to choose between eligible community providers and care at a VA medical facility.

Beyond access standards, veterans may request care outside of the VA when the services they need are unavailable, live in a state without a full-service VA medical facility, are part of the legacy/grandfathered from the Choice program, require care from a VA medical service line that VA determines is not providing care that complies with its standards for quality or in cases when outside care is in their best medical interest.

Under the new standards, veterans will be able to use urgent care centers. Veterans will select a provider in VA's community care network and may be charged a co-payment, according to the VA.

Amanda Dolasinski is MOAA's staff writer. She can be reached at amandad@moaa.org. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMOAA.