(Photo: rawpixel)
The VA has launched a nationwide telehealth emergency care service to improve emergency response for Veterans while reducing reliance on non-VA facilities. This virtual care service, piloted successfully in recent months, now connects Veterans with VA Health Connect, a 24/7 service that provides real-time access to emergency care through phone or video consultations.
The expansion of VA’s tele-emergency care, tele-EC, program allows faster care options and could help reduce strain on the VA’s budget. Increasing numbers of Veterans have been seeking emergency care at non-VA facilities, which has contributed to rising costs for the department. VA currently spends over $6 billion annually on community care, and this cost is projected to grow as the department faces a $12 billion shortfall in 2025. Staffing shortages and demands from lawmakers for solutions have also pressured the VA to find alternatives that increase access without further taxing its resources.
Through the tele-EC program, Veterans can call VA Health Connect to speak with a triage nurse, who assesses their needs and connects them to a tele-emergency care provider if appropriate. Providers offer guidance on managing symptoms, arranging follow-up care, and determining whether in-person treatment is needed. In life-threatening emergencies, the triage nurse will contact emergency services to dispatch immediate help. VA officials state that the service has resolved approximately 59.4% of calls without requiring in-person visits, offering significant benefits to Veterans, especially those in rural or remote areas with limited access to VA facilities.
Shereef Elnahal, VA’s Under Secretary for Health, noted the convenience and practicality of tele-emergency care, particularly for Veterans unsure about the severity of their symptoms.
“Veterans can now be evaluated for possible emergencies from the comfort of their home,” Elnahal said, stating that tele-EC allows Veterans to consult with VA providers who have access to their medical records. This reduces the need for potentially lengthy and costly visits to emergency departments when alternative care is suitable.
The tele-EC program is part of the VA Health Connect platform, which offers Veterans a range of services, including assistance with prescriptions, same-day appointments, and access to virtual care for non-emergency issues. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access tele-EC and other services by calling VA Health Connect or using the VA Health Chat app.
Lawmakers are monitoring the VA’s budget challenges as community care costs increase, partly due to the Mission Act of 2018, which allows Veterans to seek private care when VA services are not readily available. Some officials have expressed concerns over sustainability, with Sen. Jon Tester, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, previously highlighting the budgetary impact of expanding non-VA community care. Lawmakers are expected to address these funding issues after the November elections, as they discuss solutions for the VA’s financial shortfalls.
In the meantime, the VA hopes the tele-EC program will reduce Veterans’ dependence on non-VA facilities by providing accessible and timely emergency care from VA providers.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
