VA Community Care Playbook, Home Care Agency VA Contract Guide, Veterans Care Agreement, Home Health Business, SAM Registration

Want veterans as clients and VA as a payer, but cannot tell a Veterans Care Agreement from the Community Care Network? This playbook walks a small home care or home health agency through every step of getting paid by the VA for in-home care, written in plain language and updated for 2026.

It covers the four ways VA actually buys home care, the registrations you need, who to call at your local VA medical center, how to deliver authorized care, and how to bill so claims get paid instead of denied. Every rule points you to the official site where you can verify it.

WHAT YOU GET
- 16-section playbook in editable Word plus a print-ready PDF
- The four doors explained: Community Care Network, Veterans Care Agreements, local contracts, Veteran Directed Care
- 2026 update on the Community Care Network next generation transition
- Homemaker and Home Health Aide, respite and skilled home health eligibility rules, including the 2025 change in the VA spending limit
- Step-by-step SAM.gov, UEI, CAGE and NAICS setup (621610 and 624120)
- VetCert VOSB and SDVOSB certification through SBA
- Veterans Care Agreement process under 38 CFR 17.4100 to 17.4135
- Credentialing packet checklist and monthly exclusion screening
- Billing guide: 180-day timely filing, payer IDs, authorization numbers, corrected claims, disputes
- True cost per hour worksheet and cash flow planner
- Fill-in templates: phone script, coordinator intro email, capability statement, authorization request, TPA follow-up, VCA dispute notice
- Excel workbook with 5 tabs: Readiness Scorecard, VA Facility and Contact Tracker, Application Checklist, Claims and Authorization Log, prefilled 90-Day Action Plan, all with status dropdowns

WHO IT IS FOR
Owners and administrators of licensed non-medical home care agencies and home health agencies who want to serve veterans through VA. Veteran-owned agencies get a full section on VOSB and SDVOSB certification.

HOW IT WORKS
Instant download: the playbook in Word and PDF plus the Excel workbook. No nested zip files. Complete the Readiness Scorecard first, then follow the 90-Day Action Plan.

You brand the files yourself: add your agency name and logo to the editable templates. Licensed for use inside one agency only. Not white label, and not for resale, sharing or redistribution.

FAQ
Q: Does this guarantee VA referrals?
A: No. VA decides which agencies it uses. This playbook shows you how to be ready, eligible and easy to work with, which is what earns referrals.

Q: Is it state specific?
A: The VA rules are federal and apply in every state. You plug in your own state license details, counties and VA medical center.

Q: Do I need to be veteran owned?
A: No. Network enrollment and Veterans Care Agreements are open to any qualified agency. VetCert only matters for certain federal contracts.

Q: Is the information current?
A: Researched in October 2026 against VA, SBA and SAM.gov sources. Each section lists where to verify the rules.

Template and educational guide only. Not legal, billing, tax or financial advice, and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.