New rule would let more family physicians treat veterans

While many family physicians want to treat the military veterans in their communities, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hasn't always made that easy. Thankfully, the VA recently began taking steps to loosen its regulations in such a way that family physicians could have greater ability to serve veterans and get paid by the VA for doing so.

Under current law, private physicians can provide certain hospital care and medical services to eligible veterans when VA facilities either are not accessible or aren't able to provide the necessary care. These services are provided under the Non-VA Care program. However, the program allows that non-VA care only if the veteran initially received treatment during a period of hospitalization.

Last month, the VA published a proposed revision to this regulation in the Federal Register. The change would enlarge the list of eligible providers where the veteran initially received care to include nursing homes, domiciliary care, or other medical services. The VA could authorize non-VA treatment under the program for up to 12 months, with the option of additional reauthorizations as needed.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) enthusiastically supports this step since it improves health care access for veterans and will allow the VA to better utilize community resources. Separate from this proposed regulation, the AAFP is encouraging the VA to identify and remove additional barriers that inhibit the way community-based family physicians are able treat their patients who also happen to be veterans. Specifically, the AAFP is urging the VA to reexamine a burdensome regulatory requirement that in order for a veteran to obtain a prescription at the VA's discounted price it has to be written by a VA-affiliated provider. Instead, AAFP believes the VA should recognize the validity of a community-based physician's prescription.

The VA’s recent proposal won’t eliminate all of the barriers that community family physicians face in trying to serve veterans. However, it appears to be a step in the right direction for both veterans and their family physicians.

 –Kent Moore, Senior Strategist for Physician Payment for the American Academy of Family Physicians