Emergency services under the Millennium Health Care Act:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is authorized under Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1725 to make payment or reimbursement to a claimant for emergency treatment provided to a veteran for non-service connected conditions. In such cases, VA must be payer of last resort. VA may reimburse or pay eligible claimants for non-VA emergency medical treatment rendered to an eligible veteran on and after May 29, 2000.

There is a timely filing limit for these types of emergency care. Claims must be submitted within 90 days from the date of care.

Individual eligibility determinations are difficult, and therefore outside the scope of this general information. Please contact your local VA health care facility for individual veteran eligibility questions or concerns.

A local VA health care facility may request medical documentation to support adjudication of a submitted claim from a community health care provider. In addition, standard billing forms such as the CMS-1500 or CMS-1450 are required. Examples of these forms are shown on the Forms page.

Basic authorities & payment methodologies to provide unauthorized medical care are contained in: 38 U.S.C. 1725 & 38 CFR 17.1000 – 17.1008.