As recognition grows nationally of the needs of unpaid caregivers, family members and caregivers of veterans soon will have more options to receive care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
Starting at the end of May, these caregivers will be granted new coverage for audio telehealth services, mental health care and contraceptive services, according to a release.
“The extension of these additional services is part of VA’s continuing efforts to ensure CHAMPVA beneficiaries can access high value care where they need it, when they need it,” Shereef Elnahal, VA under secretary for health, said in a statement.
Telehealth coverage is particularly important for caregiver beneficiaries living in rural areas, the VA noted. The department is offering retroactive coverage, meaning providers and beneficiaries who utilized audio telehealth on or after May 12, 2020, can file claims for reimbursement of covered care. The time period for filing for retroactive coverage will end on Nov. 26, 2024.
Also new is CHAMPVA’s expanded coverage of mental health and substance use-related care. The VA is eliminating all limits on the number of mental health and substance use visits beneficiaries are allowed to receive in a year. It is also removing prior authorization requirements for these outpatient services unless the beneficiary exceeds 23 per calendar year or more than two per week.
Finally, the VA is removing deductibles and cost sharing for contraceptive services approved by the Food and Drug Administration, as well as some others.
CHAMPVA currently serves more than 737,500 spouses, surviving spouses, children and primary family caregivers or eligible veterans. In addition to the newly added coverages, the program also helps these beneficiaries access prescription medications, transplants, ambulatory surgery, family planning, maternity care and more.
The VA’s expansion of CHAMPVA coverage isn’t the department’s first effort to support family caregivers. In 2020, it expanded the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to help beneficiaries with “catastrophic” illnesses and disabilities receive aid.
