Cancer Care for Our Veterans

The mission and responsibility of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to provide all eligible Veterans with the best possible healthcare. In most instances that care can be provided in a VA facility. However, there are some instances in which the VA is unable to provide services in all specialties, close to home and in a timely manner.

If you are eligible for healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs, understanding your rights to equitable care is the first step to ensure that your treatment is as effective, comfortable and anxiety-free as possible with the customary standard of care that is provided to the civilian population.

Non-VA Care is medical care provided to eligible Veterans when VA facilities are not locally available or accessible to the patient, or when the required specialty, technology, or physicians are not available. Care is provided utilizing facilities outside of the VA.

All VA medical centers and eligible patients can use the Non-VA Medical Care Program when needed. A pre-authorization for treatment outside of VA facilities is required to receive Non-VA Care, unless the medical event is an emergency.

Non-VA Care should not be considered an entitlement program or a permanent routine treatment option in lieu of the VA healthcare system. Non-VA Care is utilized when receiving specialty care at a VA facility is not “feasibly available.”

The VA may consider authorizing Non-VA Care when the VA cannot provide adequate medical care for an eligible veteran due to:

• a lack of available VA-employed specialists to treat the patient’s illness
• long wait times at the regional or local VA facility where specialty care is offered
• the VA facility capable of delivering the specialty care is located far enough from the Veteran’s home that receiving treatment requires additional transportation that may compromise scheduled treatments 
• the VA facility not providing the same, usual and customary community standard of care* to the Veteran that would equal treatment provided to civilians

21^st Century Oncology is the premier provider of cancer care services across multiple modalities, the largest radiation oncology provider and we have assembled one of the largest groups of comprehensive cancer care physicians in the U.S. For more than 30 years, 21^st Century Oncology has provided state-of-the-art, compassionate cancer care, including radiation therapy and other cancer treatments to our Veterans in our patients’ home communities. Our dedicated VA clinical care team is available to help Veterans navigate paperwork and seamlessly facilitate Non-VA Care Authorizations.

Within two to three days of authorization by the VA, 21^st Century Oncology is able to see new patients for an initial consultation, discuss treatment options, and if indicated, begin treatment within seven to ten days.

Our VA clinical care team will be there with you every step of the way. From facilitating Non-VA Care authorization to ensuring paperwork is completed, our clinical care team will give you the peace of mind knowing that you will have the best treatment plan available to you.

 

* usual and customary community standard of care routinely available to the non-Veteran civilian population = 14 days.