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 — no out-of-pocket cost to the veteran for authorized services. Learn about Aid & Attendance
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 — ask your care team.
★★★★★My VA team referred me to Colorado CareAssist through TriWest. The authorization process was handled entirely between them and the VA — I just started receiving care. It was the easiest part of the whole experience.
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.
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.