Labwork at VA

We occasionally have questions from providers about labs and services performed at Veteran’s Affairs (VA) clinics and facilities. Although most veterans will have a community-based participating PCP, they still may seek some services from the VA. We’ve had preliminary conversations with VA facilities about how their nationally deployed services and EHR (called the Computerized Patient Record System, or CPRS) work. Since the VA and the CPRS are self-contained systems, all patients/services are assigned to a VA provider. All information and records are accessible (as necessary) to providers within their system. The VA’s CPRS is not able to identify a community-based physician or health plan.

If you share a patient with the VA system, test results and treatment information have to be released by the patient/veteran. The VA will then send you a copy for your records.

Topics: Preventive care