VA CCN News 2026: Complete Guide to Community Care Network Updates

VA Community Care Network (CCN) news in 2026 is dominated by three major developments: the nearly $1 trillion CCN Next Generation (Next Gen) contract modernization, the nationwide rollout of the External Provider Scheduling (EPS) system to speed up appointments, and bipartisan legislation aimed at streamlining veteran access to community care . These changes build on the VA MISSION Act of 2018 and are designed to make it easier for veterans to choose and access care from local, non-VA providers at VA expense.

Quick Facts

What Is the VA Community Care Network (CCN)?

The VA Community Care Network (CCN) is the VA’s nationwide system for providing veterans with access to community-based medical and behavioral health services. It was established under the VA MISSION Act, signed into law in 2018, and creates a benefit that lets eligible veterans choose care from authorized local, non-VA healthcare providers at VA expense . The Veterans Community Care Program is the fourth-largest healthcare payer program in America and supports more than 8.62 million enrolled veterans .

Why It Matters: The CCN is critical for veterans who live far from VA facilities, face long wait times, or need services the VA does not offer. In FY 2025, the VA made more than $36 billion in payments to local healthcare providers across the country through this program, supporting access to care and local economies . In rural areas, where healthcare providers sometimes operate on margins of less than 1%, VA community care payments help keep these providers open and available for veterans and their families .

What Veterans Should Do Next: If you are enrolled in VA healthcare and believe you may qualify for community care, talk to your VA provider. Community care referrals originate at the VA. A VA clinician must assess your eligibility and initiate a referral and authorization for the specific services you need .

How Does CCN Work?

The Referral Process

Community care referrals always start with the VA. The process works as follows:

1. VA provider assessment: A VA clinician evaluates you to determine if you meet eligibility criteria under the MISSION Act. This includes distance, wait time, service availability, “best medical interest,” or grandfathered access .

2. Referral and authorization: If you qualify, the VA clinician initiates a referral and authorization for the specific services needed. The referral flows through the VA’s HealthShare Referral Manager to the regional CCN administrator .

3. Standardized Episode of Care (SEOC): The authorization is documented on a SEOC, which defines the services authorized, maximum number of visits, and authorization start and end dates .

4. Provider placement: The regional administrator (Optum Serve or TriWest, depending on your region) places you with a credentialed community provider .

Critical Rule: Community providers cannot self-refer veterans. Authorized care must originate from the VA. Providers that see veterans without a VA referral and authorization will not be paid by CCN .

Eligibility Criteria

Veterans are eligible for community care if any of the following conditions apply :

Under current law, veterans can also choose community care when it is in their best medical interest, without additional review from a second VA provider, following the enactment of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 .

Who Does Not Qualify

Veterans who do not meet the eligibility criteria above generally cannot access community care through the CCN. Community care is not a substitute for VA healthcare—it is a supplement when VA care is unavailable or impractical. Veterans must be enrolled in VA healthcare to be eligible.

What Services Are Covered

The CCN covers a wide range of services, including :

• Primary care

• Specialty care (cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, etc.)

• Mental health care and counseling

• Substance use disorder treatment (detox, residential rehab, PHP, IOP)

• Medication-assisted treatment

• Home care and caregiving services

• Durable medical equipment and prosthetics

Latest CCN News and Updates (2026)

1. CCN Next Generation (Next Gen) Contract

In December 2025, the VA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the CCN Next Gen contract, valued at nearly $1 trillion over 10 years . This is the first major acquisition for the community care program since the MISSION Act of 2018.

Key Features:

• EHR Modernization: The VA is investing $300 million to modernize its electronic health record (EHR) system to industry standards. The goal is to allow health records to seamlessly move between the CCN and participating healthcare providers .

• Interoperability: The system will allow providers to directly send medical records to the VA and enable interoperability with other government healthcare providers like TRICARE and the War Department’s medical systems .

• Cost Savings: The VA expects the program design and changes to payments to provide savings of 8 to 14% over the life of the contracts, reducing community care spending by $54 to $100 billion over the next decade .

• Multiple Task Orders: The contract structure allows the VA to make multiple rounds of task orders to contractors, enabling adaptation to veterans’ changing needs and allowing smaller, regional firms to participate .

Source: VA officials testified to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on January 22, 2026, outlining these changes .

2. External Provider Scheduling (EPS) Nationwide Rollout

The External Provider Scheduling (EPS) system gives VA employees instant access to the scheduling systems of community care providers who participate in the program. With EPS, VA staff can immediately book appointments for veterans <span class=””>.

Impact:

• Before EPS: VA employees often had to make multiple calls to multiple providers, taking days or even weeks to book a single appointment. A single employee could only book a handful of appointments per day .

• With EPS: VA employees can book as many as 25 appointments per day—a vast improvement that means less waiting time for veterans <span class=””>.

Current Status:<span class=””> EPS was implemented in all VA facilities by late 2025. Today, 27,000 community care providers are participating in the EPS program covering 78 medical specialties. The VA’s goal is to sign up thousands of additional providers in 2026 . Provider participation in EPS is free .

3. The ACCESS Act

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act in 2026, with support from Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and a coalition of major veterans service organizations including the Wounded Warrior Project, DAV, American Legion, VFW, and Paralyzed Veterans of America .

What the ACCESS Act Would Do:

• Establish existing community care access standards as the baseline standard of care for veterans seeking care in the community

• Increase access to life-saving treatment programs for veterans with mental health conditions or addiction

• Expand the list of criteria the VA must consider when determining if a veteran should be referred to community care, including veteran preference and continuity of care 

Why It Matters: The bill addresses concerns that far too many veterans face long wait times or limited availability for care and have to fight to receive the community care referrals they are entitled to by law .

4. Precertification ID Requirement (Effective September 2026)

The VA has implemented a new requirement where select procedure codes require providers to obtain a precertification ID before rendering services .

Key Details:

• Providers must request a precertification ID through the VA Precertification Portal (VAPP)

• Requests should be submitted 14 calendar days prior to the planned date of service

• A referral issued by the VA does not automatically authorize services that require a precertification ID

• Beginning September 25, 2026, claims submitted for services without the required precertification ID will be denied 

Important: A referral issued by the VA does not automatically authorize services that require a precertification ID. Providers must follow the new process .

5. VA Makes $36 Billion in Community Care Payments

In FY 2025, the VA made more than $36 billion in payments to local healthcare providers across the country as part of the VA MISSION Act . The top ten states by payments were:

VA direct care spending also reached a record high of $101 billion in FY 2025, with a record 82,083,918 direct care appointments—up 4.1% from FY 2024 .

6. VA Community Care Network Updates Contract Requirements for Chiropractors

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) engaged with the VA and its third-party administrators, including TriWest Healthcare Alliance, to address concerns raised by doctors of chiropractic (DCs) regarding participation in the CCN .

Issues Identified: Members practicing in Regions 4 and 5 identified challenges including the imposition of contracting fees and the expectation that DCs accept additional ancillary contracts as a condition of participation in the CCN. These requirements created barriers to participation and raised concerns about fairness .

Updates:

• The VA is reassessing contracting fees for DCs participating in the CCN in Regions 4 and 5 to remove financial barriers

• DCs can now contract directly for participation in the CCN without being required to enter into additional ancillary agreements 

Source: ACA news release, April 13, 2026 .

7. Upcoming Changes to Simplify Non-VA Referrals

The VA has implemented a change to remove the second review step for “best medical interest” community care referrals. Veterans can now access care in their communities upon referral from a VA provider without requiring review from a second VA provider . This was directed by the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act .

8. Update to RFS Form

Effective June 1, 2025, the Request for Service (RFS) Form 10-10172 was updated:

• Reduced from three pages to two

• Updated all links and removed broken links

• Added RFS Submission Requirements for clarity

• Combined and removed unnecessary information to reduce incomplete submissions 

Wait Times: VA vs. Community Care

VA Wait Times in New York

Based on RAND Corporation research using data from October 2025, average wait times for new patients at New York VA facilities vary substantially by specialty :

Source: RAND Corporation analysis of VA Access to Care data, October 2, 2025 .

Key Finding: Most New York VA facilities meet wait-time standards for established patients, but many exceed the 20-day (primary care) and 28-day (specialty care) standards for new patients .

Geographic Access

An estimated 54 percent of New York veterans live more than 30 minutes from a VA facility with mental health care services. The CCN substantially expands access, but 19 percent of veterans still live more than 30 minutes from either a VA facility providing mental health care or a CCN behavioral health provider . Expanding provider participation in the CCN or increased telehealth options may be more important for improving geographic access for rural veterans .

How to Apply for CCN Care

Step-by-Step Process

1. Be enrolled in VA healthcare. You must be enrolled to receive community care.

2. Talk to your VA provider. Community care referrals originate at the VA. A VA clinician must assess your eligibility under the MISSION Act criteria .

3. Meet eligibility criteria. You must qualify based on drive time, wait time, service availability, or “best medical interest.”

4. Receive a referral and authorization. The VA clinician initiates the referral and issues a Standardized Episode of Care (SEOC) that defines the authorized services .

5. Be placed with a provider. The regional CCN administrator (Optum Serve or TriWest) places you with a credentialed community provider .

6. Schedule your appointment. With EPS, scheduling is faster and more efficient than ever before .

Important: Veterans cannot self-refer to community providers. Authorized care must originate from the VA .

Required Documents

• VA enrollment documentation

• The referral and SEOC issued by the VA

• Valid identification

• Other health insurance information (if applicable—the VA is payer of last resort) 

Common Questions

What is the VA Community Care Network (CCN)?

The CCN is the VA’s nationwide system that allows eligible veterans to receive care from local, non-VA healthcare providers at VA expense. Established under the MISSION Act, it covers primary care, specialty care, mental health, substance use treatment, and more. Veterans must be referred by a VA provider—they cannot self-refer.

How do I know if I qualify for VA community care?

You qualify if: (1) your drive time to a VA facility is over 30 minutes for primary or mental health care; (2) wait time exceeds 20 days for primary care/mental health or 28 days for specialty care; (3) the VA doesn’t offer the service you need; or (4) your provider determines community care is in your best medical interest.

How long does it take to get a community care appointment?

Wait times vary. Under the EPS system, VA staff can now book up to 25 appointments per day, reducing the time it takes to schedule care. However, wait times for new patients at VA facilities can range from 20 days for primary care to 78 days for urology in some facilities . Comparable CCN wait-time data are not publicly available .

Can I get mental health care through CCN?

Yes. The CCN covers mental health services, including individual therapy, psychiatric appointments, PTSD-specific programs, and substance use disorder treatment. Eligibility is based on the same standards as other care . Veterans who need mental health care and face long wait times or distance barriers may qualify for community care referrals.

Does CCN cover drug and alcohol rehab?

Yes—when services are authorized and considered medically necessary. The VA covers detox, residential rehab, PHP, IOP, outpatient therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare through the CCN. All treatment must be authorized by the VA before it begins .

What is the CCN Next Gen contract?

The CCN Next Gen contract is a nearly $1 trillion, 10-year modernization effort issued in December 2025. It aims to modernize the VA’s electronic health records, improve interoperability with community providers, reduce costs by $54-100 billion over a decade, and allow more vendors to compete for task orders .

What is the External Provider Scheduling (EPS) system?

EPS is a digital scheduling tool that gives VA employees instant access to community care providers’ scheduling systems. It allows VA staff to book up to 25 appointments per day—significantly faster than the previous manual process. EPS was deployed nationwide by late 2025 .

What is the ACCESS Act?

The ACCESS Act is bipartisan legislation introduced in 2026 by Sen. Jerry Moran and Sen. Jon Husted. It would establish community care access standards as the baseline of care, expand access to mental health and addiction treatment for veterans, and require the VA to consider veteran preference and continuity of care when making referral decisions .

Can a veteran’s family member become a paid caregiver through CCN?

Yes. Through the Sharecare CareLinx program, a veteran’s friend or family caregiver can become a certified professional caregiver. Caregivers are vetted, trained, and compensated. The program has delivered over 1 million hours of care through the CCN, with more than 75% of paid caregivers being veterans’ family members or trusted friends .

What are the new precertification requirements?

Effective September 25, 2026, select procedure codes require providers to obtain a precertification ID through the VA Precertification Portal (VAPP) before rendering services. Requests should be submitted 14 calendar days prior to the planned date of service. Claims without the required ID will be denied .

Key Takeaways

• The VA Community Care Network (CCN) allows eligible veterans to receive care from local, non-VA providers at VA expense under the MISSION Act.

• The CCN Next Gen contract (nearly $1 trillion over 10 years) will modernize EHR interoperability and could save $54-100 billion over the next decade .

• The External Provider Scheduling (EPS) system is now nationwide, allowing VA staff to book up to 25 community care appointments per day .

• The ACCESS Act, introduced in 2026, aims to establish community care as the baseline standard and expand mental health and addiction treatment access for veterans .

• Veterans cannot self-refer to community providers—care must be authorized by a VA clinician .

• Wait times for new patients at VA facilities can exceed 20 days for primary care and 28 days for specialty care, triggering community care eligibility .

• New precertification requirements take effect September 25, 2026—providers must obtain IDs for select procedure codes .

• In FY 2025, the VA made more than $36 billion in community care payments, supporting both veterans and local economies .

• Family caregivers can become certified professional caregivers through the CCN, with over 1 million hours delivered through the program .

• A March 2026 survey found that 90% of likely military voters support the community care policy .

Official Resources

• VA.gov – Official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – file claims, check eligibility, manage benefits

• VA Community Care Program – VA.gov/communitycare – official program information

• VA News – news.va.gov – official press releases and announcements

• VA CCN TriWest – vaccn.triwest.com – provider information, handbooks, and updates

• U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – veterans.senate.gov – hearings and legislation

• VA Precertification Portal – VA.gov – for providers to obtain precertification IDs