For many years PainCare has enjoyed being able to relieve the pain of San Diego’s military Veterans through the VA Choice Program. But today, June 6, 2019, the Veterans Choice Program ends and Vets and providers are transitioning to a new program called Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) program.
“These exciting and important changes speak to my top priority – delivering the best medical customer service and offering Veterans more healthcare choices,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie, in a message to healthcare providers. According to Mr. Wilkie, Veterans can expect:
- Less red tape and more satisfaction and predictability for patients.
- Less time driving to care and more time receiving it: Patients facing an average drive time of 30-minutes or more for VA primary or mental healthcare, or non-institutional extended care services, will have the option of choosing a community provider closer to home. For specialty care, the drive-time standard will be an average of 60 minutes.
- VA patients facing a 20-day or more wait time for primary or mental healthcare, or non-institutional extended care services, will have the option of choosing a community provider who can deliver that care faster. For specialty care, the wait-time standard will be 28 days.
- Veterans will also have access to urgent, walk-in care that gives them the choice to receive certain services at participating community clinics in their communities.
Veterans are encouraged to ask the VA about the new options available through the PC3 program. PainCare is pleased to be able to continue to provide medical pain management, chiropractic and physical therapy to San Diego military community including Veterans, active duty and dependents. Contact us at 858.202.1546 to schedule your care today.