What should I confirm before a Community Care visit?

Six questions to ask

1. Is my referral approved? Ask your VA team for the service requested, referral status, and the person or office handling it.
2. Will this exact clinician take the referral? Confirm the name, location, service, and new-patient availability with the office and VA.
3. Who schedules the appointment? VA says either you or its team may schedule. If you self-schedule, tell VA within 14 days.
4. What does the authorization cover? Check the number, provider, service, visit count or period, and any exclusions in the letter.
5. How will records return to my VA team? Ask about visit notes, imaging, prescriptions, and recommendations for another specialty.
6. What happens if I need more care? Ask when and how to request a new referral before the approved care ends.

Based on VA’s current step-by-step guide.

What if something does not match?

Pause routine scheduling until your VA team clarifies a missing referral, different provider, or uncovered service. Keep dates and written messages. Veterans in the provider-search discussion and process discussion reported mismatched listings, delays, and record handoffs. Provider comments also describe renewal interruptions in the psychologists’ discussion. These are reasons to verify details early, not guarantees that a problem will occur.

Where do I get help?

Start with your VA care team or local Community Care office. If your concern is unresolved, contact the Patient Advocate at your VA medical center. For a bill from an approved in-network Community Care provider, use the contact instructions on VA’s Community Care page rather than paying an unexpected bill without asking VA to review it.