VA now requires precertification for certain health care services. The purpose of this change is to improve utilization management and strengthen the quality of care provided to Veterans.

To obtain precertification, do the following: 

1. Check VA’s precertification billing code list to see if the specific service requires precertification.  
2. If it does, go to VA’s precertification portal. Sign up by entering your e-mail address and confirming it. 
3. In the portal, select Create a New Precertification or Update an Existing Precertification.
4. Enter all required information and submit. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with a precertification ID. At that point, the services can be provided. 

Important: Beginning September 2026, claims for services that require precertification will be denied if a precertification ID has not been obtained before the date of service. For CCN regions 1–3 (Optum), denials will begin September 16. For CCN regions 4–5 (TriWest), denials will begin September 26. Contact VHA16IVCVAPPTeam@va.gov for support. 

VA has issued new procedures for submitting decision reviews and appeals for community providers who provide care through VA family member programs. The new procedures relate to the following programs:

• Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) 

• Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program 

• Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Benefits Program 

• Camp Lejeune Family Member Program

Please follow the new submission process and include complete documentation to avoid payment delays. Options include submitting new evidence through a supplemental claim, requesting a higher-level review, or filing a board appeal.

Help Veterans see how good nutrition can support their overall wellbeing, contributing to better weight management, gut health, mood, behavior, and even sleep quality. Food and drink is one of nine elements of VA’s Whole Health program for Veterans.

Whole Health puts Veterans at the center of their care, helping them focus on what matters most to them. You can guide Veterans toward several VA resources like Nutrition and Food Services, the Veterans Canteen Service, the Live Whole Health video series, and Healthy Teaching Kitchen programs to support informed, sustainable choices.  

Now’s the time to sign up for VA’s External Provider Scheduling (EPS) to make Veteran community care appointment scheduling easier. EPS is available nationwide and includes over 25,000 community care providers. 

 How does EPS work? The system allows VA schedulers to directly book appointments with your office. This secure, digital integration shares real-time availability with VA while your office maintains full scheduling control. By aligning Veterans’ preferred schedules and your availability, EPS helps confirm appointments faster and reduces missed appointments. 

Help us connect Veterans to care, faster! To learn more, email us at: EPSProvider@va.gov or visit EPS for Community Care on VA.gov. 

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Preventing suicide through lethal means safety and safety planning (recommended)

Program description: This recommended course provides lethal-means safety training and resources for mental health and suicide prevention clinicians. The web-based training is suitable for mental health professionals, physicians, and nurses

Location: VHA TRAIN
Credit/hours: One (1)
Accreditations: ACCME, ACCME-NP, ANCC, APA, NBCC, ASWB, JA IPCE, NYSED SW, NYSE DP

Caring for Veterans who experienced military sexual trauma

This training provides an overview of military sexual trauma to support effective delivery of mental health care to Veterans. It’s suitable for physicians, nurses, clinicians, pharmacy professionals, social workers, and other health care professionals.

Location: VHA TRAIN
Credit/hours: One (1)
Accreditations: AAPA, ACCME, ACCME-NP, ACPE, ANCC, APA, ASWB, JA IPCE, NYSED SW, NYSEDP

Complex military exposures concerns and the five occupational exposure domains

This training addresses the complexity of military-related environmental and occupational exposures by emphasizing a system-wide approach for evaluation and care, and categorizing them into five occupational exposure domains. It’s suitable for physicians, nurses, social workers, physician assistants, pharmacists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and certified counselors.

Location: VHA TRAIN
Credit/hours: One (1)
Accreditations: AAPA, ACCME, ACCME-NP, ACPE, ANCC, AOTA, APA, ASWB, JA IPCE, NBCC

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Military Veteran culture: Engagement strategies by branch and era

This webinar provides an overview of military Veteran culture and discusses effective engagement strategies by service branch and era. It’s suitable for physicians, nurses, clinicians, mental health professionals, social workers, and other health care professionals.

Location: VHA TRAIN
Date: March 18, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
Credit/hours: One (1)
Accreditations: ACCME, ACCME-NP, ADA, ANCC, AOTA, APA, ASWB, JA IPCE, NBCC

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Whole Health: Empowering our senior Veterans

Whole Health is VA’s approach to supporting each Veteran as a whole person – not just focusing on symptoms or conditions. This live event addresses how to apply Whole Health principles by empowering senior Veterans to align care with personal goals and improve self-management of aging-related conditions. It’s suitable for physicians, nurses, clinicians, pharmacy professionals, social workers, mental health professionals, and other health care professionals.

Location: VHA TRAIN
Date: April 15, 2026, noon ET
Credit/hours: One (1)
Accreditations: AAPA, ACCME, ACCME-NP, ACPE, ADA, ANCC, AOTA, APA, APTA, ASWB, CDR, JA IPCE, NBCC

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