VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System

About

VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System provides primary, specialty, and mental health care, including psychiatric, substance abuse and PTSD services, to a Veteran population in central and western Massachusetts of more than 120,000 men and women.

Care is provided at the Northampton VA Medical Center, which has 85 behavioral health beds, a 44-bed nursing home care unit, and a 16-bed substance abuse, compensated work therapy and transitional residence located off-campus. The healthcare system also oversees five community-based outpatient clinics in Fitchburg, Greenfield, Pittsfield, Springfield, and Worcester.

Primary emphasis is placed on continuity of care from the medical center in Northampton to the community through outpatient treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and Home Based Primary Care.

There is an extensive network of residential settings from board and care homes to skilled nursing care. The healthcare system has affiliations with University of Massachusetts Medical School, as well as with schools in dentistry, nursing, psychology, optometry, occupational therapy, social work, and pharmacy, and other health professional and technical fields.

All Veterans in the five central and western counties of Massachusetts (Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire) are encouraged to enroll for care with VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. For more information about VA health care eligibility, please visit the VA health care website at http:www.va.gov/healthbenefits/ or contact the Eligibility and Enrollment Center for VA Central Western Massachusetts at (413) 582-3091.

Several services and health care programs are available for Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. For more information, contact Sheila Davies, OEF / OIF / OND Program Manager, at (413) 584-4040, Ext. 2027 or Judy Blanton, Patient Representative, at (413) 582-3188.

Other Special Programs Include:

• Specialized Inpatient Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program
• Polytrauma Support Clinic Team
• Inpatient Services for the Chronically Mentally Ill
• Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program
• Homeless Veterans Programs
• Substance Abuse/ Compensated Work Therapy/ Transitional Residence
• Vocational Rehabilitation Therapy Program (Supported Employment, Transitional Work Experience, Incentive Therapy, Compensated Work Therapy)
• MOVE! (Managing Overweight & Obesity for Veterans Everywhere) Program
• End of Life / Palliative Care
• Women Veterans Health Program
• Visual Impairment Services
• Smoking Cessation

Mission
Honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being..

Vision
Continue to be the benchmark of excellence and value in health care and benefits by providing exemplary services that are both patient centered and evidence based. This care will be delivered by engaged, collaborative teams in an integrated environment that supports learning, discovery and continuous improvement.  It will emphasize prevention and population health and contribute to the nation’s well being through education, research and service in national emergencies.

Medical Care

Tricare Numbers
Nurse Advice Hotline TRICARE: (800) 874-2273 Opt 1
Primary Care Appointments: (800) 600-9332
TRICARE for Life: (866) 773-0404

TRICARE
Tricare partners with United Healthcare Military & Veterans as its regional contractor in the Western United States to provide health care services and support to beneficiaries.

Home TRICARE:
https://www.tricare.mil

Tricare Home Page allows access to Enroll in or Purchase a Plan, File or Check a Claim, View Referrals, Find a Health Care Provider, Change Your Primary Care Manager, Compare Plans, Manage Prescriptions and much more.

Nurse Advice Line TRICARE: (800) 874-2273 Opt 1.

The Nurse Advice Line is available to all TRICARE beneficiaries in the U.S., except those enrolled in US Family Health Plan. You can call the Nurse Advice Line 24/7, at no cost to you, to talk to a registered nurse who can: Answer your urgent care questions.

New to TRICARE:
https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/New

Learn more about TRICARE- Watch an overview video & take free public TRICARE courses online.

TRICARE Online:
https://www.tricareonline.com/

You can make Primary Care appointments, check lab results and even order your pharmacy refills using TOL, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Contact: (800) 600-9332

TRICARE For Life:
https://www.tricare.mil/tfl
Contact- (866) 773-0404

TRICARE for Life is your Medicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and B. TRICARE for Life beneficiaries can receive care at military hospitals and clinics, ​but only on a space-available basis.

TRICARE Pharmacy Program:
https://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy

The TRICARE Pharmacy Program provides the prescription drugs you need, when you need them, in a safe, easy, and affordable way.

Customer Service Community Directory:
https://www.tricare.mil/bcacdcao/

The directory helps you connect with a Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator (BCAC), Debt Collection Assistance Officer (DCAO), or other member of the customer service community. If you have questions or issues specific to a single clinic or hospital, contact someone listed for that facility.

You may contact any customer service community representative for general TRICARE issues.

Must be registered in the DEERS program to be eligible for TRICARE
Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System:
https://www.tricare.mil/deers