Ellinwood Hospital Joins VA Community Care Network as a Credentialed Provider
Ellinwood Hospital has completed credentialing to deliver care to veterans through the VA Community Care Network, expanding local access to approved services.
Ellinwood Hospital has been formally credentialed as a provider within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care Network, a designation that allows the facility to deliver approved medical services to eligible veterans in the region. The credentialing process required the hospital to meet federal standards for clinical quality, administrative reporting, and patient coordination, and the completion of those steps clears the way for veterans to receive care locally rather than travelling to larger VA facilities.
What the designation means for patients
Under the Community Care Network, veterans who are referred by the VA can obtain care from participating non-VA providers when services are not readily available at a VA medical center or when distance and wait times are a barrier. With Ellinwood Hospital now credentialed, local veterans and their referring VA clinicians have an additional in-network option for covered treatments.
How the program works
- A veteran receives a referral from their VA provider when Community Care criteria are met.
- The referral authorises treatment at a credentialed non-VA facility such as Ellinwood Hospital.
- The hospital bills the VA directly for approved services, limiting out-of-pocket costs for the veteran.
Broader context for veterans in the region
The move is part of a wider effort to broaden access to care for veterans in rural and small-town communities, where hospital closures and long travel distances have historically complicated access. Community Care partnerships are designed to shorten wait times and keep routine and specialty care closer to where veterans live, complementing rather than replacing the services offered at VA medical centers. Similar credentialing efforts have supported programmes such as initiatives providing World Cup tickets to veterans and first responders and local recognitions like the Liberty Dinner presentation of patriotic quilts, which together highlight both clinical and community-based support for those who have served.