Community Care

The following are ways Indian Health Services/Tribal Health Program/Urban Indian Organization (I/T/U) facilities can verify American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Veteran eligibility:

Secure Data Transfer

Facilities can use the IHS Secure Data Transfer Service to request enrollment/eligibility information from the VA Health Eligibility Center (HEC). The IHS Secure Data Transfer is made available by IHS on a limited basis to enable I/T/U facilities to initially acquire a comprehensive listing of all their AI/AN Veteran enrollment and eligibility. Below are instructions for obtaining access to the IHS Secure Data Transfer Service and verifying Veteran eligibility and enrollment:

• STEP 1: I/T/U staff request access to the IHS Secure Data Transfer Service by emailing Cynthia Larsen. Access will be limited to email receipt and reply.

  Cynthia.Larsen@ihs.gov

• STEP 2: I/T/U staff fills out columns A-C of the HEC Eligibility and Enrollment Verification Template and emails it via the IHS Secure Data Transfer Service to Ms. Larsen.

  Eligibility and Enrollment Verification Template

• STEP 3: VA HEC staff verifies the list of AI/AN Veteran’s eligibility and enrollment in the VA Healthcare System and fills in columns D-F of the Eligibility and Enrollment Verification Template.

• STEP 4: VA HEC staff returns the completed Eligibility and Enrollment Verification Template to Ms. Larsen via IHS Secure Data Transfer and she will return it to the I/T/U staff.

Contact the VA HEC by Telephone

I/T/U staff can contact the VA HEC directly by phone if the staff is checking the enrollment/eligibility on less than five Veterans. The Veteran’s name and social security number will be required. VA HEC can provide basic eligibility information over the phone (enrolled Y/N, enrollment date).

Contact Your Local VA Medical Center by Telephone

I/T/U staff can contact their local VA medical center to verify the AI/AN Veteran’s VA enrollment/eligibility by calling the VA Benefits Manager listed in the completed I/T/U Implementation Plan (page 6). It is recommended that I/T/U staff work through the local VA medical center Enrollment and Eligibility Coordinator to help determine if the Veteran is eligible for other limited benefits.

Find your nearest VA facility

Veteran Provided Documentation

I/T/U staff may request documentation or information regarding a Veteran’s specific VA health care eligibility and/or service-connected disability directly from the Veteran (e.g., VA letter, etc.).