WE CARE FOR OUR VETERANS

VA provides healthcare for Veterans at Scotland County Hospital and our Rural Health Clinics in Memphis, Lancaster, Edina and Wyaconda. Veterans may be eligible to receive care at Scotland County Hospital and Rural Health Clinics when VA cannot provide the care needed. This care is provided on behalf of and paid for by VA. Community care is available to Veterans based on certain conditions and eligibility requirements, and in consideration of a Veteran’s specific needs and circumstances. Community care MUST be first authorized by VA. A referral from a VA physician is required for a Veteran to be seen by one of our primary care providers or specialists in our clinics or for testing or procedures in our hospital. This referral process and approval can take up to 14 days. Local Veterans are encouraged to get that authorization and start using the services of Scotland County Hospital & Clinics in order to avoid driving long distances to get healthcare. If a Veteran presents at our Emergency Department, there is a rule that allows our billing department to get approval for payment 72 hours after the ER visit. Veterans can receive community care, outside of the VA, as the result of highly publicized problems with Veterans not being able to get appointments at VA hospitals in a timely manner. Veterans have expanded access to medical care outside Department of Veterans Affairs facilities as part of the VA MISSION Act of 2018. The act gives Veterans better access and greater choice in healthcare either at VA or community providers through improved eligibility criteria. The rules established under the law of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 say the VA will pay for veterans to see non-VA doctors if they have to wait longer than 20 days or drive more than 30 minutes/40 miles for primary or mental healthcare at a VA facility. With pre-authorization, telehealth is also an option at Scotland County Hospital and Clinics through the VA.
Scotland County Hospital is honored to care for America’s veterans. We want to work with your VA benefits and deliver the right care, at the right time, at the right place. To use your VA benefits at our hospital or clinics, prior-authorization is needed. Without pre-authorization, the Veteran will be billed directly and pay out-of-pocket for the healthcare received. If you plan to use your VA healthcare benefits at Scotland County Hospital & Clinics, when making the appointment, please let us know you are a veteran in order to get pre-approval, prior to your appointment. This may take up to 14 days. If you are a Veteran and you wish to be seen by one of our primary care providers or specialists at Scotland County Hospital and Clinics, please call and speak to Brandi Lewis, LPN, at Memphis Medical Services at 660-465-8513 ext. 1517.