VA Mission Act Urgent Care Rules

Follow veterans I have provided the new Mission Act top five asked questions along with approved Urgent Care providers in the area. Also note, I have highlighted the two pharmacy’s you can use for prescription refills and for minor ailments. Due to this being a new veteran program I am sure there are going to be problems they have to work through. Please be patient; this a great program they are offering us and we look forward to future programs. Again, I am here for all veterans to talk to as your WAVES Project Chaplain. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on the next SCUBA dive. Sid      

Urgent care is one of the new benefits offered as part of the VA MISSION Act that gives Veterans greater choice in their health care. The benefit is offered in addition to the opportunity to receive care from a VA provider, as VA also offers same-day services. We are working to ensure Veterans understand how to use the new urgent care benefit as part of VA’s comprehensive benefits package. In this article, we answer some common questions about the new urgent care benefit.

• What is urgent care?

Urgent care is a type of walk-in health care for situations where you need help but don’t have an emergency, such as colds, ear infections, minor injuries, pink eye, skin infections, and strep throat.

• Why are there different urgent care locations?

There are two types of urgent care network locations: Retail and Urgent. Retail locations such as CVS or Walgreens are places where you can get care for minor ailments like a sore throat or earache. It looks like most CVS and Walgreens are approved pharmacies.   

Urgent locations provide more comprehensive walk-in care for illnesses or injuries that are not life-threatening, like splinting, casting, lacerations, or wound treatment. Both retail and urgent locations are staffed with healthcare professionals who are licensed and credentialed.

• Are there urgent care providers near me?

VA launched the urgent care benefit on June 6, 2019, and we are working to expand our network of urgent care providers, adding more every week. Urgent care providers are vetted and must meet strict standards of care and other requirements before they are added to VA’s network. To find a location, use the VA facility locator at https://www.va.gov/find-locations/. Select the link entitled “Find VA approved urgent care locations and pharmacies near you”. If you arrive at an urgent care network location and have difficulty receiving care, call 866-620-2071 for assistance. More information.

• How do I get prescription medication with the urgent care benefit?

You can get up to a 14-day supply of prescription medication through VA, a VA-contracted pharmacy, or a non-contracted pharmacy. If you choose to fill an urgent care prescription at a non-contracted pharmacy, you will be required to pay for the prescription when you pick it up and then file a claim for reimbursement at your local VA medical facility. Prescription medication for longer than a 14-day supply must be filled by a VA pharmacy.

• Do I have to make co-payments for urgent care?

Co-payments for urgent care depend on your assigned priority group and the number of times you visit any urgent care provider in a calendar year. Urgent care co-payments are not charged when you receive care from an urgent care provider, but are billed separately by VA.

For additional information about the VA MISSION Act, visit https://missionact.va.gov/

Temecula/Murrieta/Lake Elsinore Area

A Plus Urgent Care, 31571 Canyon Estates Dr, Lake Elsinore · (951) 245-8880

Inland Urgent Care, 29997 Canyon Hills Rd Ste 1604, Lake Elsinore · (951) 244-2224

Total Care Family Medical Center, 425 Diamond Dr Ste 105, Lake Elsinore · (951) 471-6785

Premier Family/Urgent Care, 297908 Haun Rd, Menifee · (951) 679-9700

A Plus Urgent Care, 26926 Cherry Hills Blvd, Menifee · (951) 696-7587

San Diego County

AFC Urgent Care Mission Valley, 8590 Rio San Diego Dr #111, San Diego · (619) 736-4600, Open · 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Plushcare Urgent Care, 1146 Felspar St, San Diego · (661) 367-8040

Corona Area

Vista Medical Group, 2071 Compton Ave, Corona · (951) 549-0900

Inland Urgent Care, 487 Magnolia Ave Ste 102, Corona · (951) 279-4994

Citrus Valley Urgent Care, 760 S Washburn Ave Ste 5 6, Corona · (951) 737-0910

Urgent Care | Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center, 10800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside · (951) 353-2000