Copayment for telehealth care eliminated

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that, effective May 7, it is no longer charging veterans a copayment when they receive in-home care from VA health professionals using video conferencing.

"Eliminating the copayment for this service will remove an unnecessary financial burden for veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. "We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that veterans have access to the first-class care they have earned with their service to our nation."

This change will primarily benefit veterans with limited mobility, such as spinal-cord injury patients. Whenever medically appropriate, VA will make the veteran’s home the preferred place of care to ensure timely and convenient access to VA services.

Data have shown that expanded use of technology in the home enables patients with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, chronic heart failure and hypertension, to live independently, manage their health, and prevent avoidable hospitalization.

Home telehealth does not replace the need for nursing-home care or traditional non-institutional care programs. However, it enhances the ability for many veterans to better understand and manage chronic diseases. The veterans partnership with their care team helps delay the need for institutionalization and enables them to maintain independence for an extended period of time, thus improving their overall quality of life.

For more information about telehealth, click here.