VA Community Care in Colorado: Home Care Through TriWest
The VA Mission Act expanded veterans' access to community providers. Here is how Colorado veterans get home care authorized through the VA Community Care Network and TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
VA Mission Act
What Is the VA Community Care Program?
The VA MISSION Act of 2018 created the VA Community Care Network (CCN), which allows eligible veterans to receive care from approved community providers when the VA cannot provide timely or geographically accessible care. For home care, this means veterans can receive personal care, homemaker, and home health aide services from non-VA providers like Colorado CareAssist, with the VA paying the cost through its community care contractor.
Veterans are eligible for Community Care when the VA cannot provide an appointment within 20 days for primary care or mental health, or 28 days for specialty care; when the drive to the nearest VA facility exceeds 30 minutes for primary or mental health care, or 60 minutes for specialty care; or when the VA determines it is in the veteran's best interest to receive care in the community.
Community Care is separate from the VA pension benefit. Aid & Attendance and Housebound are pension supplements that pay veterans a monthly amount they can use to cover care costs. Community Care is a direct authorization for specific care services billed to the VA, with any cost-sharing determined by the VA for authorized services. Learn about Aid & Attendance Not sure if you qualify? See our VA home care eligibility guide.
Self-Directed Care
Veteran Directed Care (VDC)
Veteran Directed Care is a VA-funded program that gives eligible veterans a budget to manage their own care, including the ability to hire family members as paid caregivers. It is one of the most flexible VA programs available.
Veteran-Controlled Care Budget
The veteran works with an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to develop a spending plan. The veteran, not the VA or a case manager, decides how funds are used.
Hire Family Members as Caregivers
One of the most distinctive features of VDC is that veterans can hire a family member, friend, or neighbor as a paid caregiver. The caregiver is employed through a fiscal intermediary that handles payroll and taxes.
Coordinate Through Colorado AAAs
In Colorado, VDC is coordinated through the state's Area Agencies on Aging. Eligible veterans are enrolled through their VA medical center. Ask your VA primary care provider or Patient Advocate whether VDC is available through your facility.
Eligibility Requirements
Veterans must be enrolled in VA healthcare, have a VA-documented need for personal care services, and be enrolled in the VA's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program. Not all VA facilities offer VDC, so ask your care team.
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Why Colorado Families Choose CCA for Veteran Care
Colorado CareAssist has served veterans and their families since 2012. We are locally owned, not a franchise, and our caregivers receive specialized training in PTSD awareness and military culture. We work directly with TriWest on CCN authorizations, assist families navigating Aid & Attendance applications, and coordinate transportation to VA appointments across the Front Range.
Whether you are pursuing a Community Care referral, waiting on an Aid & Attendance decision, or simply need help now; contact us for a free, no-pressure consultation.
Serving veterans throughout Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Adams, Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe, El Paso, Pueblo, and surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the VA pay for home care through Community Care?
- Eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare may qualify for home health aide and homemaker services through the VA Community Care Network. In Colorado, TriWest administers these benefits. Colorado CareAssist is an enrolled provider and bills TriWest directly for authorized hours, so eligible veterans and families receive no invoice from us.
- How many hours of care will the VA authorize?
- The VA sets the number of hours on each veteran's authorization, based on an individual assessment of need. There is no fixed number, and it can change over time. Colorado CareAssist provides care within the authorized hours and helps families request adjustments through the VA case manager when needs change.
- What is TriWest and how does the process work?
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance is the VA Community Care administrator for Colorado. A VA provider submits a referral, the VA authorizes services, TriWest issues a Request for Services to an enrolled provider like us, and care begins. We coordinate directly with your VA medical center throughout.
- Do veterans pay anything out of pocket?
- Any cost-sharing is determined by the VA based on eligibility, and many veterans owe nothing for authorized hours. Because we bill TriWest directly for authorized care, the veteran and family receive no bill from us for those hours. This is separate from private-pay care and pension benefits.
- How do we get started with VA home care?
- Ask your VA primary care provider or case manager for a referral for home health aide or homemaker services, or call us at (303) 757-1777 or (719) 428-3999. We will help you understand eligibility, explain the TriWest process, and coordinate with your VA medical center.
Take the Next Step
Questions about VA Community Care in Colorado?
We work directly with TriWest Healthcare Alliance for Community Care authorizations. Call to learn how to get your care started.