CHAMPVA EFT for Providers: Enrollment, Updates, and Payment Holds

Do CHAMPVA providers have to use EFT?

Yes. VA's family member care page says providers must be enrolled in Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to be paid under CHAMPVA and VA's other family member programs. VA deposits approved payments straight into your bank account. It does not mail checks.

VA's provider payment page says federal law requires medical and dental provider payments to be electronic. The general federal rule is 31 CFR 208.3.

EFT only controls how VA sends money. It does not set the payment amount. That comes from the CHAMPVA allowable amount rules in 38 CFR 17.275. See CHAMPVA Allowable Amount.

How do we enroll?

Online, through VA's Financial Services Center.

1. Go to the Customer Engagement Portal (CEP). Its Payment Account Setup and Updates function handles both new setups and changes.
2. Sign in. The portal routes you through VA's sign-in. VA's provider instructions say you need a verified VA sign-in account to submit the form.
3. Choose the request type. Pick New Vendor for a first-time setup or Update Existing Vendor to change banking or other details.
4. Complete VA Form 10091, the VA-FSC Vendor File Request Form. Have your organization's identifying details and bank account information ready.
5. Submit it online. VA no longer accepts paper Form 10091 for provider setup.
6. Watch the contact email. VA's Vendor File Team writes to the email on the request. Messages include a ticket number starting with VCOM. Look for receipt confirmation, requests for corrections, and notice that the ticket is closed.

How long does it take?

VA's provider guidance says setup generally takes 15 to 30 days and to allow 30 days. Enroll during onboarding so payments are not held later. If 30 days pass with no email from the Vendor File Team, contact VA-FSC.

VA-FSC Customer Engagement
Phone: 877-353-9791, option 3 (Medical Claims, CEP Questions and Reactivations)
Email: vafsccshd@va.gov

What if a payment is held for EFT?

Fix EFT and leave the claim alone. VA's family member denial code guidance lists CARC 299 / RARC N24, payment requires EFT enrollment. VA says payment may be held because the provider is not enrolled.

1. Do not resubmit the claim. VA specifically says not to.
2. Enroll in EFT through the portal.
3. Answer any Vendor File Team request quickly.
4. Call VA-FSC if you already enrolled and payment is still held.
5. Check claim status after EFT is set up to see if any other issue remains. See How to Check CHAMPVA Claim Status.

Resubmitting can create a duplicate claim without fixing the payment account.

How do we update bank information?

Use the same Payment Account Setup and Updates function in CEP and choose Update Existing Vendor. Changing bank details in another VA system does not update the VA-FSC payment record.

Is EFT the same as filing claims electronically?

No. Claims can go in electronically as an 837 or on paper by mail, according to VA's CHAMPVA provider page. EFT is how VA pays approved claims. An office that mails paper claims still needs EFT. See CHAMPVA Paper Claims for Providers.

What EFT does not do

EFT enrollment does not:

• put your practice in a network (CHAMPVA has no medical provider network);
• confirm a patient's eligibility;
• preauthorize a service;
• make a service covered;
• change the allowable amount;
• fix coding, missing data, or other insurance issues; or
• replace a claim or a claim status inquiry.

For the full billing routine, see the CHAMPVA Provider Quick-Start.

Troubleshooting checklist

Separate the payment problem from the claim problem.

• EOB shows CARC 299 / RARC N24: Enroll or correct EFT. Do not resubmit. Call VA-FSC if enrollment is already pending or done.
• Bank account changed: Submit an update through CEP.
• Request pending: Check the contact email for the VCOM ticket and answer any requests.
• Unpaid with no EFT code: Check the EOB and claim status. The cause is likely something else, such as missing information, other insurance, coding, or coverage. See Correcting or Resubmitting a CHAMPVA Claim.