Unauthorized Medical Care

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is authorized under Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1728 to make payment or reimbursement to a claimant for emergency treatment provided to a veteran for service connected conditions.

There is a timely filing limit for unauthorized inpatient or outpatient medical care claims. Claims must be submitted within 2 years 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 claim from a community health care provider. In addition, standard billing forms such as the CMS-1500 or CMS-1450 are required. For this type of unauthorized emergent care, VA requires claimants to fill out and submit VA Form 10-583. 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. 1728 & 38 CFR 17.120 – 17.132.