Co-Managed Care Brochure FAQ
Author: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center Central Region
Keywords: comanagement, dual care, veterans, ORH, VRHRC, toolkit

Steps to managing the co-managed Veteran

Collect the Veteran’s VA provider information at the very first visit. If they are unsure, have them call the VA and check.
Send copies of your clinic notes, medications and labs to the VA after every visit with the Veteran. Also make sure to request these documents for your patient each time they come to the VA.
Check the VA formulary and include appropriate documentation when a Veteran wants to fill your prescription at the VA.
Advise the patient to understand their VA benefits by meeting with a local benefits coordinator. This will help lower confusion and stress for the Veteran in situations like emergencies.
Encourage the Veteran to utilize MyHealtheVet to manage their health information.
Thank you for your commitment to providing quality care to our Veterans!

Department of Veterans Affairs

Iowa City VA Health Care System
601 Hwy 6 West
Iowa City, IA 52246

Phone: (319) 338-0581
Toll-Free: 1 (800) 637-0128
Website: www.iowacity.va.gov

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Co-Managed
Care

Iowa City Health Care System

(319) 338-0581

Co-Managed Care FAQ

What is co-managed care?
Co-managed care, sometimes called dual care, is when a patient receives health care both within the VA and at a non-VA community provider.
How do I get medical information about my patient from the VA?
You may request medical information about an established patient for the purposes of treatment of that patient. The request should be written on your clinic letterhead and faxed to the medical center (not the community outpatient clinics):
Iowa City VA
Release of Information Office
Fax: (319) 339-7189
New patients should fill out, sign and send in VA form 10-5345 (available online) to the fax number listed above in order to release their medical information to you
All requests are processed within 20 days of receipt.

My patient would like to get a prescription I’m writing filled through the VA. Can they do that?
Some outside prescriptions can be filled by the VA. Start by making sure the medication you are requesting is on the VA formulary: http://www.pbm.va.gov/NationalFormulary.asp
If the medication is formulary and the VA provider approves the medication, the information the VA provider needs to accompany the prescription includes:
A copy of the prescription
A copy of the paperwork stating the diagnosis related to the prescription
The History and Physical (H&P) and/or progress notes from the Veteran’s most recent visit
Results of any relevant labs or tests
These documents should be sent to the VA facility where the patient is seen.
I need to contact the Veteran’s provider at the VA in regard to the patient’s treatment. How do I reach them?
Ask your patient to provide you with the name and contact information of their VA Primary Care Provider/RN Care Manager and their team name/color. This is the easiest way to reach the provider. You may also call the VA operator (319) 338-0581 who can direct you to the primary care team.
Is there anything else the Veteran can do to help me access his or her health information?
Some Veterans have found the VA’s online personal health record, MyHealtheVet helpful. Medications, labs and other important health information can be found on this website: www.myhealth.va.gov. This website can be accessed anywhere there is internet as long as the Veteran has his or her log-in information.
What should I advise my co-managed Veteran patient to do in an emergency situation?
If a Veteran presents with an emergency, calling 911 is still the right course of action. Once they are admitted to the hospital they should try to contact the VA Hospital (319) 338-0581 within 72 hours.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Iowa City VA Health Care System
601 Hwy 6 West
Iowa City, IA 52246

Phone: (319) 338-0581
Toll-Free: 1 (800) 637-0128
Website: www.iowacity.va.gov