Military veterans who are struggling with substance use disorders and certain co-occurring mental health concerns can receive comprehensive, personalized care at Pocono Mountain Recovery Center. Our treatment center is authorized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide services through the Community Care Network.
What Is the Community Care Network?
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the Community Care Network (CCN) to provide military veterans with direct access to premier treatment providers throughout the United States. The CCN was designed to replace the Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) network, which was the VA’s previous system of connecting veterans with healthcare providers in their communities.
The CCN includes a variety of authorized providers, including facilities such as Pocono Mountain Recovery Center that offer care for veterans who have developed substance use disorders and certain co-occurring mental health concerns.
The VA has organized the Community Care Network into six regional networks that encompass all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories. Pocono Mountain Recovery Center is part of the CCN’s Region 1, which includes Pennsylvania, 13 other states, and Washington, D.C.
To ensure that the CCN operates with maximum transparency and accountability, and to promote both quality service and effective communication, the VA contracts with nongovernmental organizations to manage each region. These organizations are referred to as third-party administrators, or TPAs.
The TPA for Region 1 is Optum Public Health Sector Solutions Inc., which is typically referred to as Optum.
Optum
Optum, which is part of UnitedHealth Group, was selected by the VA to serve as the contracted TPA for three regions within the Community Care Network. Since the network was created in 2018, Optum has administered Regions 1, 2, and 3.
Optum and UnitedHealth Group are affiliated with several organizations that support military personnel, veterans, and families, including the National Military Family Association, the Blue Star Families Fellowship Program, and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Optum’s services as the TPA for these regions include overseeing the network of providers that provide care within each region, evaluating provider performance in relation to a series of metrics that were established by the VA, processing claims, managing an online portal, and operating a call center.
Navigating the CCN
The Pocono Mountain Recovery Center team is committed to helping patients in all aspects of the treatment experience. In some cases, this involves helping prospective patients overcome obstacles that may be preventing them from accessing the care they need.
For veterans, our comprehensive support may include providing information and guidance to help them navigate the Community Care Network. Our admissions team includes dedicated professionals who possess considerable knowledge of the CCN’s policies, procedures, and requirements.
For additional information about receiving care at Pocono Mountain Recovery Center through the VA Community Care Network, please feel free to contact us directly at your convenience. A member of our team is available 24/7 to answer your questions, review your options with you, and empower you to make the most informed decisions about your healthcare.
