The VA Community Care Network: How to Get Private Home Care Paid by the VA

For years, the VA was seen as a closed loop—if you wanted care, you had to go to a VA hospital and see a VA doctor. But for a veteran with mobility issues, traveling to a VA facility is often a grueling, painful ordeal.

Everything changed with the VA Community Care Network (CCN). The CCN is a massive partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and private, local healthcare providers. It allows the VA to "buy" care from local agencies like ours, so you can receive the support you need in the comfort of your own home.

What Is the Community Care Network?

The Community Care Network is a nationwide network of private healthcare providers that have been vetted and approved by the VA. When VA facilities can't meet a veteran's needs—due to distance, wait times, or specialized services—the VA can authorize care through the CCN instead.

For home care specifically, this means:

• The VA approves you for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide (H/HHA) program
• Instead of sending a VA employee, they issue an authorization to a CCN-approved private agency
• The private agency sends caregivers to your home
• The VA pays the agency directly—you pay nothing (or a small copay in some cases)

In North Carolina, the CCN is administered by Optum, which coordinates between the VA, veterans, and local providers.

How CCN Works for Home Care

If you're eligible for VA home care, here's what the CCN process looks like:

Benefits of Using a CCN Provider

While the VA provides excellent medical oversight, private CCN agencies specialize in the human element of home care. Here's why many veterans prefer CCN providers:

Who Is Eligible for CCN Home Care?

To receive home care through the Community Care Network, you generally need:

• VA Health Care Enrollment: You must be enrolled in the VA health care system
• Clinical Need: A VA provider must determine you need assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, mobility, or meal preparation
• CCN Availability: The VA must authorize CCN care (which they typically do when internal capacity is limited—common in most areas)

Importantly, you don't need a high disability rating to qualify. Eligibility is based on your current functional needs, not your service-connection percentage.

How to Get Started with CCN Home Care

The process requires a specific approach with your VA provider:

1. Schedule a VA Primary Care Appointment at your local clinic (Charlotte VA Health Care Center, Salisbury VA, or your assigned facility)
2. Be Specific About Your Needs: Tell your doctor: "I'm struggling with [bathing/dressing/walking safely], and I need a Social Work Consult for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program."
3. Request CCN Explicitly: When the social worker contacts you, say: "I would like to use a Community Care Network provider. Is Carolina Home Health Care in the network?"
4. Wait for Authorization: Once the VA approves your hours, they send a referral to us through Optum
5. We Contact You: Our team calls you within 24-48 hours to schedule an intake and begin care

For the exact script to use with your VA doctor, read: The VA Doctor Script: What to Say to Get a CCN Referral

Optum, Region 1, and How CCN Referrals Reach Us

Optum administers the VA Community Care Network for Regions 1, 2, and 3. North Carolina is in Region 1, and South Carolina is in Region 3 — both administered by Optum.

Optum handles:

• Processing referrals from the VA to approved community providers
• Verifying provider network status
• Handling billing between the provider and the VA
• Assisting with authorization questions

Carolina Home Health Care is a credentialed VA Community Care Network provider. Our NPI is 1235351578. North Carolina referrals route through the Salisbury VA Health Care System; South Carolina referrals route through the Columbia VA Health Care System (Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center).

CCN vs. Direct VA Care: Comparison

Factor	Direct VA Care	CCN Provider
Who Delivers Care	VA employee	Private agency caregiver
Start of Care	May have longer wait times	Often 48-72 hours after authorization
Caregiver Consistency	May vary based on VA staffing	Same caregivers assigned to you
Communication	Through VA system	Direct line to local agency
Cost to Veteran	Usually free	Usually free (some copays possible)
Scheduling Flexibility	Based on VA availability	Work directly with agency

CCN Coverage in North and South Carolina

Carolina Home Health Care provides CCN home care services throughout the following areas:

Charlotte Metro Area (North Carolina)

Mecklenburg County, Gaston County, Cabarrus County, Union County, Lincoln County, Iredell County, and surrounding areas including Ballantyne, University City, Huntersville, Cornelius, Mooresville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Gastonia, Concord, and Kannapolis. North Carolina referrals route through the Salisbury VA Health Care System.

South Carolina (York, Lancaster & Chester Counties)

York County, Lancaster County, and Chester County, including Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Lancaster. South Carolina veterans are served through the Columbia VA Health Care System, and many use the Rock Hill VA Clinic at 459 Lakeshore Parkway, Rock Hill, SC 29730. See our Rock Hill, SC home care page for details on services in this area.

Veterans in either state can request Carolina Home Health Care as their CCN provider when their VA authorization is issued.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VA Community Care Network (CCN)?

The CCN is a partnership between the VA and private healthcare providers. It allows the VA to authorize care from local agencies instead of requiring veterans to use only VA staff. The VA pays the private provider directly.

Who manages the CCN in North Carolina?

Optum administers the VA Community Care Network for Regions 1 through 3. North Carolina is in Region 1 and South Carolina is in Region 3. Optum processes referrals from the VA, verifies provider network status, and handles billing between the provider and the VA.

How do I get home care through the CCN?

Ask your VA PCP for a Social Work Consult for the Homemaker/HHA program. Once approved, request a CCN provider by name. The VA sends an authorization, and the agency contacts you to begin care.

Can I choose my own CCN provider?

Yes. Tell your VA social worker which provider you prefer, and they can direct the referral to that agency. You have the right to choose.

Is there any cost to me for CCN services?

For most veterans, CCN home care is free. Some veterans with higher incomes may have a small copay, but the vast majority pay nothing out of pocket.

How is CCN different from Aid and Attendance?

CCN is a service where the VA pays an agency to send caregivers to your home. Aid and Attendance is a cash pension benefit paid directly to you. Many veterans use both programs together.

How do I request Carolina Home Health Care as my VA community care provider?

You — or a family member or caregiver acting on your behalf — have the right to request a specific community provider when the referral is issued. Tell your VA social worker or community care coordinator: "I would like my home care referral sent to Carolina Home Health Care, NPI 1235351578." North Carolina veterans route through the Salisbury VA Health Care System (CCN Region 1, administered by Optum); South Carolina veterans route through the Columbia VA Health Care System, also called the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center (CCN Region 3, administered by Optum).

What is Carolina Home Health Care's NPI number?

Carolina Home Health Care's NPI is 1235351578. Give this number to your VA social worker or community care coordinator when you ask for your home care referral to be sent to us.

Why Choice Matters

You spent your career following orders. Now, you should be the one in command of your care. The Community Care Network gives you the power to choose a private agency that treats you with the respect you earned.

Is your current care plan falling short? Navigating VA paperwork is what we do every day. If you're tired of the "wait and see" approach, contact us. We can walk you through the steps to see if your VA benefits can be used to hire our professional team.

Let's get you the care you deserve—right at home.

VA program details, phone numbers, and network administrators verified September 2026. VA contact information changes — confirm with your VA care team before acting.