NARRATOR: The Department of Veterans Affairs Community
NARRATOR: The Department of Veterans Affairs Community

Care Network, or CCN, is VA’s direct link with
Care Network, or CCN, is VA’s direct link with

community providers to ensure we provide Veterans
community providers to ensure we provide Veterans

with timely, high-quality health care. CCN serves
with timely, high-quality health care. CCN serves

as a contract vehicle and a network of high-performing,
as a contract vehicle and a network of high-performing,

credentialed community providers that VA partners with to provide
credentialed community providers that VA partners with to provide

health care to Veterans in their local community. VA’s
health care to Veterans in their local community. VA’s

partnership with community providers is critical for
partnership with community providers is critical for

meeting the health care needs of Veterans across the United
meeting the health care needs of Veterans across the United

States and its territories. For community providers, joining CCN
States and its territories. For community providers, joining CCN

is the best way to serve and care for our nation’s Veterans.
is the best way to serve and care for our nation’s Veterans.

CCN is VA’s preferred method of purchasing community care
CCN is VA’s preferred method of purchasing community care

through all VA medical facilities. VA contracts with
through all VA medical facilities. VA contracts with

Third Party Administrators, or TPAs, to perform certain
Third Party Administrators, or TPAs, to perform certain

functions. This includes developing and administering the
functions. This includes developing and administering the

regional networks of community providers that make up CCN,
regional networks of community providers that make up CCN,

resulting in familiar business practices for community
resulting in familiar business practices for community

providers. CCN is made up of six regions aligned to state
providers. CCN is made up of six regions aligned to state

boundaries: Region 1 consists of northeastern states; Region 2
boundaries: Region 1 consists of northeastern states; Region 2

includes midwestern states; Region 3 covers southeastern
includes midwestern states; Region 3 covers southeastern

states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Region 4
states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Region 4

includes most western states and Hawaii; Region 5 covers Alaska;
includes most western states and Hawaii; Region 5 covers Alaska;

and Region 6 consists of American Samoa, Guam, and the
and Region 6 consists of American Samoa, Guam, and the

Northern Mariana Islands. Services offered through CCN
Northern Mariana Islands. Services offered through CCN

include the following: medical, behavioral health, surgical,
include the following: medical, behavioral health, surgical,

complementary and integrative health services, durable medical
complementary and integrative health services, durable medical

equipment for an immediate need, pharmacy for an immediate need,
equipment for an immediate need, pharmacy for an immediate need,

and dental. In addition, with CCN, along with other
and dental. In addition, with CCN, along with other

improvements VA is making, Veterans and community providers
improvements VA is making, Veterans and community providers

can expect expanded health care services, improved provider
can expect expanded health care services, improved provider

customer service, improved accountability, improved health
customer service, improved accountability, improved health

information exchange, improved referrals and scheduling, and
information exchange, improved referrals and scheduling, and

improved payment timeliness to community providers. To be part
improved payment timeliness to community providers. To be part

of CCN, community providers must establish a contract with the
of CCN, community providers must establish a contract with the

TPA for your region of CCN; have a National Provider Identifier
TPA for your region of CCN; have a National Provider Identifier

(NPI) from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System,
(NPI) from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System,

which is issued at no cost; use the NPI and referral number to
which is issued at no cost; use the NPI and referral number to

conduct all business activities with VA, including medical,
conduct all business activities with VA, including medical,

dental, and pharmacy transactions; be credentialed in
dental, and pharmacy transactions; be credentialed in

accordance with the requirements for your region of CCN.
accordance with the requirements for your region of CCN.

Community providers work directly with the TPA to
Community providers work directly with the TPA to

complete the credentialing processes. Under CCN, VA
complete the credentialing processes. Under CCN, VA

directly manages Veteran customer service touch points,
directly manages Veteran customer service touch points,

while TPAs respond to inquiries from VA staff and community
while TPAs respond to inquiries from VA staff and community

providers. When VA refers a Veteran to a community provider
providers. When VA refers a Veteran to a community provider

who is part of CCN, the referral goes directly to the community
who is part of CCN, the referral goes directly to the community

provider. Referrals are not sent through a TPA, which allows the
provider. Referrals are not sent through a TPA, which allows the

provider-to-provider relationship and communication
provider-to-provider relationship and communication

to remain intact. Community providers must receive an
to remain intact. Community providers must receive an

approved referral from VA before treating an eligible Veteran in
approved referral from VA before treating an eligible Veteran in

most circumstances. Exceptions include emergency and urgent
most circumstances. Exceptions include emergency and urgent

care. With CCN, appointment scheduling usually occurs
care. With CCN, appointment scheduling usually occurs

directly through the Veteran’s local VA medical facility or
directly through the Veteran’s local VA medical facility or

directly by the Veteran. VA maintains a master directory of
directly by the Veteran. VA maintains a master directory of

all community providers authorized to care for Veterans.
all community providers authorized to care for Veterans.

To support proper care coordination, community
To support proper care coordination, community

providers who are part of CCN must submit medical
providers who are part of CCN must submit medical

documentation directly to VA, preferably by an accepted and
documentation directly to VA, preferably by an accepted and

secure method of electronic transmission. Through CCN, the
secure method of electronic transmission. Through CCN, the

claim and payment process allows for consistent and timely
claim and payment process allows for consistent and timely

payments to community providers. As part of this process,
payments to community providers. As part of this process,

community providers must submit claims to the appropriate TPA
community providers must submit claims to the appropriate TPA

assigned to your CCN region, with the referral number, and
assigned to your CCN region, with the referral number, and

within the timeline required. Once the claim is received, the
within the timeline required. Once the claim is received, the

TPA processes, adjudicates, and pays the claim. Participation in
TPA processes, adjudicates, and pays the claim. Participation in

CCN means community providers are paid in a timely manner
CCN means community providers are paid in a timely manner

because TPAs have contractual requirements for timeliness and
because TPAs have contractual requirements for timeliness and

accuracy of payments. Generally, health care services provided by
accuracy of payments. Generally, health care services provided by

community providers are reimbursed based on rates
community providers are reimbursed based on rates

established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,

or CMS. CCN is a key part of making community care work
or CMS. CCN is a key part of making community care work

better for Veterans, community providers, and VA staff. For
better for Veterans, community providers, and VA staff. For

community providers, joining CCN is a great way to honor and care
community providers, joining CCN is a great way to honor and care

for those who have served our country. We hope you will
for those who have served our country. We hope you will

consider joining the VA network. To join CCN, community providers
consider joining the VA network. To join CCN, community providers

should contact the TPA assigned to your region. To learn more,
should contact the TPA assigned to your region. To learn more,

visit our website at this address.
visit our website at this address.