Optometrists that care for the vision of a significant number of veterans have been encouraged to use the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (DVA) online claims service. In doing so, the DVA says they can be reimbursed for veteran claims within 72 hours rather than the current 28 days required to turn around manual claims.
DVA Allied Health Online Claiming is a paperless claiming system, which increases the speed and accuracy of claims lodged for payment for services delivered to eligible DVA card holders.
Online claiming has been available for approximately two years and there are three software programs currently available to facilitate the process. The Medicare software system cannot be used.
The software incorporates electronic remittance advice statements, which detail payments made and are available on request via an optometrist’s claims management system once the claims have been processed. Automated account reconciliation may also be possible, depending on the claims management system, and has the potential to provide administration and cost efficiencies.
Optometric services make up a significant proportion of health services accessed by veterans, however, the amount of veteran care delivered by individual optometry practices varies widely.
