The Veterans Administration (VA) recently posted
updated Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs) rates for participating skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers.
VCA SNF payment rates for short-stay SNF care have increased by approximately 50%, and long-stay veteran care payments have increased by approximately one-third. These rate increases apply retroactively for dates of service beginning October 1, 2023.
AHCA has been working collaboratively with the VA and on Capitol Hill for many years to advocate for VCAs, which increase the opportunity for veterans to obtain non-VA extended care from local providers. VCAs help to ensure that our nation’s veterans can remain in their communities or close to loved ones to receive vital and often life-sustaining medical services rather than having to go to a distant VA facility.
VCA agreements also offer a more streamlined and less burdensome participation process for providers. Initially, the VCA rates were not attractive and, in some cases, insufficient to cover the cost of care. Few providers elected to participate, leaving geographic gaps across the country where veterans continued to face challenges accessing nursing home care.
Members with a current VCA provider agreement and those who may be interested in obtaining this agreement are encouraged to review this
additional important information (member log-in required). AHCA will also host a member webinar with the VA in early 2024; more information will be available soon. Please contact
Dana Ritchie and
Dan Ciolek with any questions.