{"id":73338,"date":"2025-08-05T12:15:41","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T12:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/08\/05\/va-to-ease-authorization-rules-for-some-outside-care-raising-concerns\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:31:13","slug":"va-to-ease-authorization-rules-for-some-outside-care-raising-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/veterans\/2025\/08\/05\/va-to-ease-authorization-rules-for-some-outside-care-raising-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"VA to ease authorization rules for some outside care, raising concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs officials<\/a> will extend community care authorizations for up to one year for procedures related to 30 separate medical specialties, a move that critics charge could potentially put taxpayers on the hook for expensive and ineffective medical treatments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department leaders on Monday said the change is needed to ensure that veterans\u2019 medical care <\/a>outside the federal health systems is not delayed or disrupted by cumbersome regulation. Currently, patients need to get reauthorizations every three to six months for the community care appointments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo veteran should have their health care disrupted by red tape,\u201d VA Secretary Doug Collins<\/a> said in a statement announcing the new policy. \u201cThis change means better continuity of care, which leads to better health outcomes. It also improves convenience for veterans and cuts administrative work for VA staff and community care partners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list of specialty services<\/a> covered includes cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, neurology, psychiatric outpatient treatments, optometry, some orthopedic work and addiction medicine. <\/p>\n\n\n\t