What is the Va Community Care Network for Outpatient Alcohol Rehab?
The VA Community Care Network (VA CCN) is a program that allows eligible veterans to receive outpatient alcohol rehab services from approved community-based providers. This network serves as a bridge for veterans when care at a VA facility is not readily available or practical.
Through the VA CCN, veterans can access various levels of support, including Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), General Outpatient (OP) services, and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP).
Eligibility Criteria
To receive a referral for community-based care, a veteran must meet at least one of the following six criteria:
- Wait Times: The wait for an appointment at a VA facility exceeds 20–30 days.
- Travel Distance: The nearest VA facility is more than 40 miles from the veteran's residence.
- Service Unavailability: The specific treatment needed is not offered at the local VA.
- Clinical Need: A VA provider determines that community care is in the veteran's best clinical interest.
- State Limitations: The veteran lives in a state or territory without a full-service VA medical facility.
- Hardship: The VA determines other hardships exist that make community care necessary.
Covered Services
Approved community providers, such as Rosewood Recovery, offer comprehensive treatments including:
- Individual and group therapy sessions.
- Medication management for alcohol use disorder.
- Holistic modalities like yoga or acupuncture (if offered by the provider).
How to Get Started
Veterans must first confirm their VA healthcare enrollment and request a referral from their VA primary care provider or mental health coordinator. Once authorized, the VA handles billing and coordination with the chosen community provider.