As part of implementing the VA MISSION Act of 2018, VA will start offering urgent care services to provide Veterans with greater choice and access to timely, high-quality care.

Urgent care providers treat injuries and illnesses that require immediate attention but are not life-threatening, such as influenza, minor burns, and skin infections. There are two types of urgent care network locations: Retail and Urgent.

Retail locations include a walk-in health clinic, other than an office, urgent care facility, pharmacy, or independent clinic located within a retail operation. Reasons why you would seek care at a retail location include treatment of an uncomplicated illness such as a sore throat or earache.

Urgent locations include an office or a clinic, whose purpose is to diagnose and treat illness or injury for unscheduled, ambulatory patients seeking immediate medical attention (aside from emergency rooms). Reasons why you would seek care at an urgent location include treatment of more pressing illnesses or injuries that are not life-threatening, like splinting, casting, lacerations, or wound treatment.

This benefit is considered open access, allowing Veterans to access urgent care within VA’s community care network and receive care without prior authorization from VA. The benefit will be available in June 2019. To check eligibility, call 1-(833) 483-8669. For a complete list of services that are covered, please visit https://missionact.