VA Community Care (VACCN) Rehab for Veterans

Substance use disorder is a problem for veterans. Close to 11% of veterans meet qualifications for substance use disorder upon intake at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Fortunately, there is hope for veterans battling addiction.

Are you a military veteran undergoing substance and drug abuse disorder? You’re not alone. This problem often goes hand in hand with mental health issues developed during military service.

Military deployment may come with stress, fear, and uncertainty that may gradually develop into mental health and substance use disorders (SUD). Many veterans undergoing SUD remain hesitant to speak up about their issues because asking for help is discouraged in military culture. It’s, therefore, crucial to fight this stigma by offering adequate help to all military veterans afflicted with SUD.

Veterans Administration Community Care

The Veterans Health Administration has brought together a network of healthcare providers, VA Community Care, to help veterans fight substance use disorders. Several Community Care providers and programs in this network collaborate with the VA to provide services that promote a healthy lifestyle to affected veterans.

What Does the Veteran Affairs Community Care Program Offer?

Veterans Administration Community Care Network (CCN) is an initiative designed to enable veterans to access healthcare services beyond VA through referral to other providers in the local community. The program consists of various private healthcare providers and facilities that accept health insurance offered by VA. If you can’t access specific healthcare services through the VHA, this private provider network may be your best option.

Since the VA Community Care program is established to offer healthcare on behalf of the VA, it also covers the treatment of veterans with substance abuse disorders. However, you can’t access healthcare from local community providers without appropriate authorization. Your eligibility to access different healthcare packages in the community depends on well-set criteria per your needs and circumstances.

Who Is Eligible for the Veteran Affairs Community Care Program?

Eligibility for the CCN is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances and needs of each individual. The essential thing a veteran is expected to do is to enroll in VA healthcare or already be eligible for it; the community personnel will determine your level of eligibility depending on set requirements. You must meet any of these five requirements or conditions to get approval to be seen by a Community Care member:

• The nearest VA facility to your location doesn’t offer the healthcare service you need.
• The state that you reside in doesn’t have a VA healthcare facility providing comprehensive service assistance.
• You qualify under the “Grandfather” provision of the Veterans Choice Program.
• Getting treatment from a community provider in your current best medical interest.
• Your nearest VA facility can’t provide some of the healthcare services that you need.

Benefits of VA Community Care Program Network

If you’re already an eligible veteran, you can get access to a range of healthcare services and treatments packages which includes:

• Primary, preventive, and specialty care
• Diagnosis and assessment services
• Treatment programs and outpatient services
• Intensive inpatient treatment programs

If you want to check your eligibility, it’s easy to do on the VA CCN website. You can also call your nearest VA clinic. Different healthcare offered by the program includes substance abuse disorder treatment and mental health services. You can access treatment for SUD, PTSD, and other mental health-related treatments in inpatient and outpatient plans through the community.

There are additional healthcare benefits that a veteran can access depending on their unique requirements and conditions. The community also allows veterans to combine VA coverage with other insurance packages to access better treatment services. So, don’t hesitate to get help even when your insurance doesn’t cover substance abuse recovery treatment; there are various options you can choose from for a better and quicker recovery experience.

What Types of Substance Abuse Treatment Options Are Available to Veterans?

Substance abuse disorders affect every aspect of life. Therefore, veterans with such issues need comprehensive treatment and medical support to recover fully. Remember, the anxiety and stress that comes with military service may negatively influence general social behavior and interpersonal connections.

Some veterans with SUD issues may feel inferior after leaving active service. Therefore, it’s crucial to include programs such as conflict resolution, communication skills, and relationship rebuilding in the treatment process.

The focus should not be explicitly based on withdrawal from substance abuse. It’s about stopping the addiction, its consequences, and everything that triggers it. The three primary therapies involved in helpful thoughts and boosting the ability to change from substance abuse include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing (MI).

The primary intake stage of the above therapies is crucial for everyone suffering from substance addiction. A veteran undergoing SUD goes through the following approaches performed by trained professionals:

• Medically monitored and safe detoxification
• Counseling and therapy individually
• Family or group therapy
• Relapse prevention skills
• Wellness activities and natural therapies
• Coping skills for day-to-day stress management
• Holistic therapies and relevant approaches

Finding Community Care Network Provider

If you’re eligible for VA healthcare services, you can choose between VA healthcare facilities or VA-approved Community Care providers whenever you need treatment or medication. It also depends on the disorder you’re battling and the treatment that you need. For instance, if you’re being treated for opioid addiction, your doctor may have decided that methadone treatment would be best for you, but you may not be able to obtain this medication from your nearest VA medical facility.

If you choose Community Care, you’ll have the opportunity to select a community provider within the VA network depending on your preference. You can then schedule an appointment depending on the services that you need on your own or through a staff member. The easiest way to pick a suitable VA community healthcare provider is to use a VA facility location tool to find a provider near you.

What Are the Costs of VA Community Care Services?

In general, any disease, injury, or illness resulting from military service makes you eligible for free medical care from the VHA. Such primary medical care doesn’t require you to pay any extra costs. Services such as mental health therapy, PTSD counseling, and SUD treatment services that may affect the ability of a military officer to perform are free. Healthcare services that aren’t related to the military are sometimes charged on co-payment, but it depends on the circumstances.

However, some veterans are exempt from co-paying for any health-related services depending on their income level and certain eligibility factors, such as whether or not they have a disability. If you have a different health insurance package that covers your treatment, the VA may charge them for any extra services, medication, and supplies that demand direct payment from your pocket.

How Do You Get Addiction Treatment with VA Community Care Network?

According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, one out of four individuals with severe mental illness also has substance abuse disorder. Among people being treated for prescription painkiller abuse, 43% also have a diagnosis or symptoms of mental health issues including depression and anxiety.

This is why it’s crucial to have a comprehensive treatment plan that covers all aspects of your recovery needs for the best long-term outcome. That’s why addiction treatment with the VA Community Care covers the full spectrum of SUD and mental health treatment.

To get started, all you have to do is schedule an appointment at your local VA clinic. During the appointment, you can discuss your substance disorder issues. Your provider will decide on a course of treatment, and if there is any aspect that they cannot provide, they will refer you to a VA CCN member who can help you.

Salute to Recovery Program For Veterans

The Salute to Recovery Program is a unique initiative designed to treat active military personnel and veterans suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues. These include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. The VA provides this program to veterans, and it includes:

• Cognitive processing therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Relapse prevention and coping skills
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Nutrition
• Motivational interviewing
• Pain management

How to Find a Rehab in the VA Community Care Network

If you want to locate a Community Care provider, you can visit the VA or website Veterans Rehab, and we are happy to help you. VA Community Care providers are divided into six regions for more accessible options. A third-party administrator, Optum, manages regions 1, 2, and 3 with a good website that allows for the search of CPPs in the region. Another administrator, Triwest, manages region four, which covers everything west of the Dakotas, including Texas, and region 5, which covers Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Not every VA clinic can meet every veteran’s needs, so some local VA programs may not have comprehensive substance abuse disorder treatment. That’s why VA Community Care providers are crucial to veterans who want to live a healthy, drug-free life. Don’t be ashamed or face stigma if you’re experiencing SUD–contact VeteransRehab.org today. We can help you take the first step on your road to recovery.