The short answer
HealthShare Referral Manager (HSRM) is VA's secure, web-based system for sending Community Care referrals and authorizations to community providers. Providers use it to track referrals, submit Requests for Service, view a Veteran's clinical summary, and send updates back to VA. Access requires an active CCN or Veterans Care Agreement, HSRM training, and a verified sign-in account.
What is HSRM?
VA's online system for Community Care referrals. VA's care coordination tools page describes it as a secure, web-based system VA uses to generate and submit referrals and authorizations to community providers.
In plain terms: when VA approves a Veteran's Community Care, the referral and authorization usually land in HSRM, and the provider picks them up there.
What can providers do in HSRM?
- See referrals and authorizations for Veterans sent to them, in one place.
- Track referral status.
- Submit Requests for Service (RFS) online for more visits, new specialties, or services outside the authorization. See How Community Providers Request More Care.
- View the Veteran's clinical summary from VA.
- Send documents and updates back to VA.
Who can use it?
Community providers whose organization has:
- an active Community Care Network agreement with Optum or TriWest; or
- an active Veterans Care Agreement with a VA medical center.
The agreement must list a National Provider Identifier (NPI).
How does a practice get access?
From VA's tools page:
- Complete HSRM training through VA's TRAIN learning site. Options include a 2-hour live webinar, a 2-part webinar, or self-paced eLearning.
- Each staff member creates and verifies a sign-in account using a work email.
- The practice's point of contact submits VA's End User Tracker to HSRM Support.
- After approval, staff log in through VA's Community Care Referral and Authorization (CCRA) website.
VA also suggests letting the VA medical centers you work with know once training is done.
Is HSRM required?
It's VA's main referral system, and the easiest way to receive referrals and send RFS forms. VA also accepts RFS forms by secure email, direct messaging, fax, or mail if the facility allows it. Without HSRM, referrals and requests move by fax or email instead.
What other VA tools should practices know about?
- Veterans Health Information Exchange (VHIE): Shares records like medications, allergies, labs, and notes between VA and community providers electronically. Practices on national exchange networks may already have access through their health record system.
- External Provider Scheduling (EPS): Lets VA staff book Veterans directly into a practice's schedule. VA says it's optional and free to join.
- Secure email: VA sends sensitive information by encrypted email. Practices can reply but can't start a new secure email to VA or send prescriptions through it.
What does HSRM mean for Veterans?
You won't use it yourself. But if your provider says they "don't have the referral," ask whether they've checked HSRM. If they don't use it, ask your VA Community Care office to send the referral another way.