VA response letters to Requests for Services (RFS) for dental care now list specific Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes and the tooth number or area of the oral cavity involved that are authorized.

Going forward, you can compare your initial request with VA’s authorized care plan to ensure Veterans are receiving the care they need and are eligible for. Otherwise, there are no changes to how dental RFSs are submitted.

In general, all care must be authorized by VA. The RFS process ensures the Veteran is eligible for the care you provide, and that VA is authorized to pay for it. If you provide care without VA’s approval, in most cases we can’t pay for the care.

If you have a question, please contact your local VA facility community care office.

Claims were incorrectly processed when beneficiaries had more than one other health insurance.

VA is recovering more than $41 million in overpaid claims issued to some providers who accept payment under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).

The overpayments stemmed from a processing error in VA’s claims adjudication system.

Between October 2021 and December 2024, when CHAMPVA beneficiaries had more than one health insurance plan, the system incorrectly processed claims. This resulted in overpayment to many providers.

If you were affected by the overpayment, VA will send you a letter detailing the overpaid amount and bill of collection number 741-K5T. You will need to submit your overpayment online via the Pay.gov Claim Overpayment portal.

Once the overpayment is recovered, you can forward the claim to the secondary payer. If the secondary payer doesn’t pay the claim in full, you can resubmit it to VA. Be sure to include both explanations of benefit for tertiary payment.

Contact VA’s Debit Collection Contact Center at 833-930-0816 if you need assistance.

If you treat patients who are covered by the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), you must sign up for direct deposit (electronic funds transfer, or EFT) to be paid.

VA is only authorized to pay CHAMPVA claims with EFT. Pending payments for providers who aren’t enrolled in EFT will resume once enrolled.

Two steps to enroll in EFT:

1. Visit the VA Financial Services Center Customer Engagement Portal.
2. Complete the Payment Account Setup web form to enroll. 

Your payments will be automatically deposited into a bank account. 

For assistance with the webform, call 877-353-9791.

Remember: Getting paid by EFT isn’t optional, it’s a federal requirement.

Resource: CHAMPVA – Information for Providers

Looking for an easier way to schedule appointments for Veterans? Try External Provider Scheduling (EPS)—a free, cloud-based process that streamlines care coordination, reduces administrative burden, and maintains your full control over your schedule.

Faster, streamlined scheduling: EPS allows VA schedulers to book appointments directly into your system in real time, cutting out phone calls and faxes. This means Veterans are booked for appointments in hours instead of weeks, and your staff spends less time on administrative tasks to focus on patient care.

Seamless integration and full control: EPS works with over 150 electronic health records and scheduling systems, so there’s no new software or workflow changes. You choose which appointment slots to share with VA, keeping full control over your schedule.

No hassle, no cost: EPS is completely free for providers. Patient files stay secure, and your current systems won’t be disrupted, making it easy and stress-free for your practice.

Join 8,000-plus providers already live in EPS!

Experience faster scheduling, seamless integration, and zero cost. Help us connect Veterans to care more efficiently—while making life easier for your staff.

Ready to get started?

Email EPSProviderEngagementTeam@va.gov to learn more and begin your EPS onboarding today.

Forging healthy bonds with family, friends, and co-workers is important for your Veteran patient’s overall Whole Health, which is centered around what matters to the Veteran and based on their values, needs, and goals.

Here’s how you can start a conversation with them about the importance of relationships:

1. Initiate the conversation
Take a moment to encourage your Veteran patients to reflect on their relationships. Ask questions like: What matters most to you in your relationships? How do your relationships impact your overall health and well-being?

2. Explain the link between good relationships and better health
Explain to your patients that good relationships with people they love and trust can make them happier and healthier. Spending time with them (including their four-legged loved ones, too) can lower stress levels and even boost their immune system. On the other hand, challenging relationships can lead to anxiety, illness, and depression.

3. Provide resources for relationship support
Encourage them to seek help if their relationships are causing distress. VA offers many resources to help manage difficult relationships, such as VA Mental Health and the VA Chaplain Service.

4. Emphasize quality over quantity
Advise your patients that the quality of their relationships is more important than the quantity. It’s better to have a few close connections than many superficial ones. Encourage them to:

• Identify who has their back.
• Spend time with these people.
• Strengthen those bonds through gratitude and forgiveness.

Fostering community connections

Everyone needs to feel that they belong. This sense of belonging, or “social connectedness,” is also important for Whole Health. Suggest ways for your patients to connect with their community. They can volunteer, join a Veteran Service Organization, or participate in Whole Health activities at their local VA facility. They can also start their own Veterans Social group with VA support.

By making new friends and engaging with their community, your Veteran patients will not only enhance their social network but also gain deeper insights into themselves and what matters most to them, which is what Whole Health is about.

This article by Andrea Young, Health Systems Specialist, VA Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation, has been adapted from its original version for this publication.