Life in the force is fraught with hardship and danger, especially for people who had active deployment experience. That is why the majority of military personnel begin suffering from mental health difficulties after discharge from active duty. The military organization provides stability and deals with most daily needs of its personnel enabling them to think only of the task ahead. Once people leave the force, they are confronted with an abrupt change in their everyday lives including challenges they are unable to cope with.1

Unique aspects of military culture that promote toughness and self-sacrifice make it difficult for veterans to turn to professional help once they start suffering from mental health issues. Another problem for veterans is the stigma associated with mental health conditions. For these reasons, veterans tend to turn to substance use as a way of overcoming daily hardships. The most popular substance of choice among US veterans is alcohol, which is used by roughly 1.7 million veterans, or 7 out of 10. According to SAMHSA research, there were 5.2 million veterans in the US in 2020 who suffered from mental illness and/or substance use disorder.2

Besides widespread stigma, the biggest challenges when it comes to substance use treatment among veterans are the lack of awareness of quality treatment options and the availability of treatment. In that sense, the passing of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 was an important step in the right direction. VA MISSION Act replaces the Veterans Choice Program with a more inclusive and efficient Veterans Community Care Program.3

What Is the MISSION Act?

The Veterans Administration (VA) delivers healthcare to more than 9 million US veterans through its healthcare division called Veterans Health Administration (VHA). VHA is the nation’s largest healthcare system that operates 1,298 healthcare facilities and employs 350,000 people who provide healthcare solutions inside 171 medical centers and 1,113 VHA outpatient care sites.4

The MISSION Act, or the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018, was introduced as an improvement on the previous legislation that dealt with veterans’ treatment and well-being. It identified and improved upon the weak points of the former healthcare system, including a revamp of customer service operations, modernization and a realignment of existing VHA resources, as well as an introduction of the wider scope of quality treatment options that are offered to former military personnel.5

The passing of the MISSION Act concretely deals with:3

  • Improvement in accessibility of community care options for the US veteran population.
  • VHA’s ability to attract and hold onto the best doctors, clinicians, and other medical staff.
  • An establishment of a new benefit called MISSION Act Urgent Care that is delivered through the VA’s network of Urgent Care community providers.
  • An introduction of the “Anywhere to Anywhere” telehealth program that is especially beneficial to older and rural veterans.

Since most US veterans receive their healthcare services from local providers, the VA launched a Veteran Community Partnership that works with state and local community services and agencies. Veteran Community Partnership (VCP) is a national program that establishes a connection between local community providers and VA-run facilities to provide easier access to care and more flexibility to veterans and their beneficiaries who are in need of various forms of treatment.6

With the introduction of VCP, the MISSION Act:6

  • Improves accessibility of VA insurance, services, and benefits.
  • Develops and fosters a strong relationship between the VA and community providers.
  • Aids in seamless transitions between different care providers.
  • Offers further support to caregivers and their families.
  • Enables a better analysis through shared reporting.
  • Educates both local and state agencies and VA providers.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements of the VA MISSION Act?

The VA MISSION Act introduced many improvements when it comes to the overall quality of available treatment for veterans and their families and caregivers. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers became more inclusive through the expansion of eligibility criteria. When it comes to access procedures, enrollment of priority groups, and eligibility requirements for VA healthcare coverage, no changes were made.7

Under the VA MISSION Act eligibility requirements, US veterans will receive healthcare coverage from the VA if they:7

  • Were discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable.
  • Are reservists or members of the National Guard who were subject to activation under a Title 10 executive order and completed the full period of required service.
  • Served an entire term of 24 months of active service (in case of personnel who enlisted after 9/7/1980), or;
  • They completed at least 1 day of active duty service (in case of personnel who enlisted before 9/7/1980 or took part in active deployment on or before 10/16/1981, including cases of delayed entry).

There are cases which are treated as an exception to these eligibility requirements. These cases include:7

  • Veterans who were released from active duty or discharged because of:7
    • A disability that was sustained or aggravated in the line of duty.
    • A hardship (dependent upon the type of hardship).
    • An early out (enlisted only).
  • Experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST) while serving in the force even if they don’t meet active duty requirements. They will be eligible for VA healthcare coverage if they experienced sexual trauma during:7
    • Active duty service.
    • Active duty for training.

Veterans who are also subject to exemption from minimum active duty requirements are those who:7

  • Had a 15-month enlistment contract.
  • Qualify for a Service Connected (SC) disability.
  • Meet the requirement of 0% SC Non-Compensable National Guard or reservist.

What Is VA Community Care?

Perhaps the most influential and beneficial change introduced by the VA MISSION Act is the launching of the Community Care Program which was created in place of the defunct Veterans Choice Program. The Community Care Program represents a significant upgrade compared to the VA’s previous approach, which worked with local and state providers only in case of last resort. New legislation gives veterans a wider choice and the possibility to opt for Community Care providers that best match their specific medical needs.8

The VA constituted the Community Care Network (CCN) that will establish and foster a direct partnership between the VA and existing community providers. Through this close relationship, the CCN will improve the coordination between the VA and local and state actors which will result in streamlined procedures and greater efficiency of the whole system. The CCN will also enable the VA to provide the highest quality of care and promptly satisfy veterans’ treatment demands in the area of their choosing.9

The Community Care Network will bring different actors together who will function like one network of providers in order to improve on previous customer experience and deliver a more user-friendly treatment experience. This integration of systems will enable better sharing of information and knowledge and improve established medical procedures. The CCN covers all US states and overseas territories.10

The Community Care Network is divided into 5 regional divisions to enable local flexibility and increased access to care. Regional networks will purchase care on behalf of the VA from providers within the community. The CCN utilizes industry-standard approaches, procedures, and guidelines to administer and pay for services in a timely fashion, provide high-quality care, and run the whole provider network using its full potential. A map of all CCN regions is available on the Community Care web page.10

What are VA Community Care Eligibility Criteria?

With the passing of the MISSION Act, veterans who are eligible for Community Care will be able to use their VA healthcare coverage to receive care in private treatment facilities if they represent the best treatment option for their specific medical condition. The MISSION Act makes it a lot easier for veterans to turn to their local providers for medical solutions instead of having to rely solely on VA-run facilities.9

There are 6 eligibility criteria for Community Care coverage. In order to reap the benefits of local providers using their VA coverage, Veterans will have to meet one of the following requirements:3

  • The veteran needs a service that is not provided by existing VA medical facilities.
  • VA service doesn’t meet required access standards because the waiting time or drive to the care provider are too long.
  •  VA service offered for a specific condition doesn’t match the required quality standard.
  • The designated clinician has determined that it’s in the patient’s best medical interest to receive care from a different provider.
  • Veteran lives in a state or overseas territory that doesn’t have a full-service VA medical facility. (This includes Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
  • The veteran qualified for the previous Veterans Choice Program on June 5, 2018. (This includes veterans who lived in low populace states of Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming).

What are the Pros and Cons of the VA MISSION Act for Veterans?

The passing of the MISSION Act of 2018 has many benefits for veterans in need of quality healthcare service. One of the biggest pros of the new legislation is the greater choice when it comes to community care providers, especially for veterans who live in sparsely populated or undeveloped rural areas. Another big improvement is the decreased waiting times for treatment as well as access provision that gives people the option of using a local provider if the drive to the VA facility takes longer than 30 minutes in case of primary care, mental health, and noninstitutional extended care services, or 60 minutes in case of specialty care.7

When it comes to the cons of the MISSION Act, there are certain fears that the introduction of the MISSION Act will lead to loss of specialized care from VA-trained doctors who worked on the unique needs of veterans and eventually higher out-of-pocket costs through further privatization of healthcare and shrinking of the available resource pool.11

Does the VA MISSION Act Cover Addiction Treatment?

In 2008, the Congress passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which defined 10 essential health benefits that all Marketplace plans must provide. ACA included mental health conditions on the list of essential benefits, which had a positive impact on the availability of behavioral treatment in the US. One of the major beneficiaries of ACA were individuals who needed treatment for substance use disorders since addiction is considered as a mental health issue.12

US veterans are disproportionately affected by substance use issues and alcohol use in particular. A SAMHSA survey for 2020 found that more than 26% of veterans had a mental illness and/or substance use disorder, meaning that 1 in 4 veterans suffers from these issues. The same survey found that 1 in 8 veterans suffered from a combination of alcohol and illicit drug use known as co-occurring disorder (COD). COD, also called dual diagnosis, is a serious mental health condition that has the potential to develop into a serious issue that can become life threatening if left untreated.2, 13

Having this in mind, the VA offers veterans a chance to undergo proven rehabilitation treatment. Veterans who suffer from substance use issues can choose between several professional approaches for various stages and types of addiction, including:14

  • Evidence-based behavioral treatments such as:14
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
    • Talk therapy, also known as Psychoanalysis.
    • Motivational Interviewing (MI).
    • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
    • Art therapy.
    • Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET).
  • Rehab programs that combine behavioral treatment with FDA-approved medication that is designed to manage withdrawal and help patients get clean in a pain-free manner through:14
    • Medically managed detox.
    • Drug substitution approach.
    • Medication-assisted therapies.
    • Regular Outpatient rehabs.
    • Intensive outpatient treatment (IOT).
    • Short-term 30-day programs.
    • Long-term Inpatient rehabilitation.
    • Partial Hospitalization programs (PHP).
    • Aftercare and sober living arrangements.

How Do I Use the VA MISSION Act?

Addiction differs from case to case. The most important factors are the duration and severity of addiction and the type of substance used. Sometimes people have a wrong idea about the severity of their alcohol intake which can be dangerous, especially for people who drink on the job and who operate machinery or motor vehicles.1, 15

When confronted with addiction, the first step to take is to schedule an appointment with the doctor. VA’s clinician will look into your situation to determine what type of treatment will be best suited to your specific condition. After you’ve seen the doctor, the next step is to inform the VA about your medical situation. The VA will then send you a referral and the necessary paperwork you need to enter into treatment. After that, it’s important to find a reputable treatment provider that specializes in the type of rehab procedure that is the best fit for your particular condition.16

How To Find VA MISSION Act Providers for Addiction Treatment?

You can find treatment options through the VA by contacting them directly or visiting their internet website. The VA runs a dedicated web page that has an easy-to-use locator of VA-run facilities and various state and local in-network Community Care providers. With the use of the VA locator you can search for rehabs near you according to the type of facility and the service offered.16

If you’re looking for a proven recovery provider, American Addiction Centers (AAC) is the nation’s leading network of rehab centers that specializes in the treatment of addiction and mental health issues. AAC operates numerous rehab centers that are located around the country. AAC’s facilities incorporate a whole-patient approach that tackles the root causes of addiction and focuses on the treatment of all forms of substance use-related issues. People who experience a relapse after completing one of AAC’s 90-day rehab programs, will receive additional 30 days of treatment free of charge as part of AAC’s unique 90-Day Brand Promise.

When it comes to veterans and their families, AAC has a special Salute to Recovery program that is designed to help with particular challenges of military personnel and first responders. Salute to Recovery provides evidence-based individualized treatment using a network of people that is equipped to grapple with distinctive issues facing veterans through camaraderie and trust. Salute to Recovery helps individuals build skills that will help them achieve long-term sobriety and lead fulfilling and productive lives.

Desert Hope

Desert Hope treatment center is a premium facility when it comes to addiction rehab solutions in Nevada. Located in Las Vegas, Desert Hope is an industry-accredited center that has treated more than 13,000 patients to date. It has all the relevant industry accreditations, state-of-the-art amenities, and medical staff of the highest caliber. Desert Hope works with all major insurance providers and offers a serene and structured ecosystem with tailored treatment options, including:17

  • Medical Detox.
  • Various Therapeutic Approaches.
  • Various Outpatient Rehabs.
  • Veterans Salute to Recovery Programs.
  • Inpatient and Residential Treatment.
  • Co-occurring Disorder Care.

Recovery First

Recovery First is a top-of-the-line addiction rehab center located in Hollywood, Florida. At Recovery First, groups are kept small and personal, which allows staff to work closely with patients and evaluate their progress at all times. This enables medical professionals at Recovery First to adjust treatment according to the patient’s progress, which will greatly aid in overall recovery. Recovery First is known for its continuum of care including rehab options like:17

  • Veterans Recovery Track.
  • Individual and Group Therapies.
  • Regular and Intensive Outpatient Programs.
  • Inpatient Rehabs.
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
  • Partner Genetics-Informed Addiction Treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions