Page 15 - Desert Oracle May 2021

Completed Appts - New - Average Wait Time

Completed - New - Average Wait Time by Appointment Date & Primary Stop Clinic Group - Northern Arizona HCS)

May- Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr-
Clinic Group FY20 FY20 FY20 FY20 FY20 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21

Mental Health 9.0 9.3 6.8 6.2 8.4 10.7 14.4 11.7 7.7 10.6 9.6 21.1

Primary Care 9.8 14.9 12.4 13.1 16.1 17.1 18.4 15.6 11.9 11.3 19.4 26.4

Specialty Care and All Other 3.5 21.7 19.3 19.7 30.1 26.0 23.2 21.4 15.8 15.4 21.6 25.4

VA Video Connect (VVC) Data (as of 04/30/2021):
• For FY21, NAVAHCS has provided 13,700 VVC appointments for Veterans. Although the
COVID numbers are decreasing, we are expecting Veterans to continue to utilize VVC
services in-lieu of face-to-face appointments and are anticipating further expansion of services.

Veteran VA Medical Care Debts
• Regulatory change within VA’s Final Rule for Billing and Collections (AQ69) includes an
amendment to 38 CRF 17.101, which specifies VA will only generate third party claims using
Reasonable Charges (RC) rates for community care services. This means billers no longer
need to consider which charge is higher between RC rate and amount paid; VA will always bill
the RC rate.
• The VA is cancelling/refunding first party Copayments and cost shares for all Medical
appointments and Medication fills for Dates of Service between April 6, 2020 – September
30, 2021.
• Any payments made for dates of service between April 6, 2020 - present will be cancelled,
and refunded payments will begin in May 2021.
• Statements will remain on a freeze until after September 30, 2021.
• Modified statements are to resume in July 2021, after refunds have been initiated.
• Click here for the link for the Final Rule PDF.
Housing Updates for Veterans:

• The Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD) has begun placing Veterans at the Jerry Ambrose
Veterans Council of Mohave County and as of March 3 currently has 3 Veterans in
rd
Transitional Housing and are outreaching for additional placements.
• NAVAHCS Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) project has continued its development and the
developers are working on completing surveys and obtaining permits to begin the construction
process. The EUL will provide housing on the VA campus for an anticipated 70 homeless
Veterans. It is estimated to open in early 2023.
• Kingman began housing Veterans at the Villas in December. The project has 48 units set aside
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for the HUD-VASH Project Based Program. As of April 26 , all units at the Veterans Villas
have been assigned and should be fully leased up by the end of May as Veterans work on
finalizing their applications.
• Mobile Vaccination plan has begun to roll out to address vaccinating our Homeless Veteran
population with the COVID-19 vaccine. Plan has been successful with being able to provide
the opportunity for a vaccination to some of our more rural areas such as Bullhead City.