The short answer
VA Community Care is the program: the rules for when VA will pay for care outside VA. The Community Care Network (CCN) is the group of outside providers VA has contracts with, run by Optum and TriWest. A provider being in CCN doesn't mean you qualify or that VA approved your visit.
What's the difference?
Community Care is the program. CCN is the network.
- The Veterans Community Care Program sets the rules for when VA will pay for care outside VA. It decides whether you qualify and approves the care. The rules are in 38 CFR 17.4000 through 17.4040.
- The Community Care Network (CCN) is VA's main group of contracted outside providers. Companies called third-party administrators build and manage the network for VA. See VA's CCN page.
| Community Care (the program) | CCN (the network) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The rules for VA-paid outside care | Providers under contract with VA |
| Decides if you qualify | Yes | No |
| Approves your visit | Yes, through a referral and authorization | No |
| Who runs it | VA | Optum and TriWest, for VA |
| Covers every outside provider VA uses | Yes | No, VA also uses Veterans Care Agreements |
Why does the difference matter?
Because a provider being "in the VA network" doesn't mean VA will pay for your visit. For routine care, VA has to approve the care first and send the provider a referral. If you book with a CCN provider on your own without a referral, VA generally won't pay, and the bill can land on you.
The reverse is also true. Qualifying for Community Care doesn't mean you can see any civilian provider. The provider has to be in CCN or have another agreement with VA.
Who runs the CCN regions?
The network is split into five regions. According to VA's CCN page, last updated July 2026:
| Region | Administrator | Customer service |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3 (East, Midwest, and South) | Optum | Region 1: 888-901-7407, Region 2: 844-839-6108, Region 3: 888-901-6613 |
| 4 and 5 (West and Alaska) | TriWest | 877-226-8749 |
VA has started replacing these contracts with new ones that use fewer regions. The current regions stay in place until VA moves to the new contracts. For the state list and what's changing, see CCN Regions, Optum, and TriWest.
Does VA use providers outside CCN?
Yes, in limited cases. When no network provider can meet your needs, VA can sign a direct agreement with a provider called a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). VA also has other partnerships, like sharing agreements with military hospitals. See What Is a Veterans Care Agreement?
You still need VA's approval before seeing a VCA provider for routine care.
What does "VACCN" mean?
It's informal shorthand for the VA Community Care Network. VA usually writes "CCN" for the network and "Community Care" for the program. When someone says VACCN, ask whether they mean the network or the program, because they lead to different questions:
- "Do I qualify?" or "Is it approved?" That's a Community Care question for your VA team or your facility's Community Care office.
- "Is this provider in network?" or "Where does the claim go?" That's a CCN question for Optum or TriWest.
What should Veterans check before an appointment?
- Eligibility: VA confirmed you qualify for this care.
- Authorization: You have an authorization number and letter.
- Provider: The provider on the authorization is the one you're seeing.
- Scope and dates: The visit falls within the approved services and time period.
- Receipt: The provider's office has the referral.
What should providers check?
- Your CCN contract or VCA is active.
- You have the Veteran's referral and authorization, usually through HealthShare Referral Manager (HSRM), VA's referral system.
- The services and dates you plan to provide are inside the authorization.
- Anything extra goes through a Request for Service (RFS) first. See How Community Providers Request More Care.
- Claims go to your region's administrator, not to the Veteran.