Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center Joins Effort to Speed Care for Our Nation’s Veterans

On Jul 7, 2014

Secaucus-based Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center (MHMC) President & Chief Executive Officer Thomas B. Considine announced today that MHMC has signed a contract that will allow the hospital to help alleviate extended wait times for our nation’s veterans in need of medical care. MHMC will treat veterans as part of the HealthNet Federal Services’ Patient-Centered Community Care (PCCC) program, which supplements existing United States Veterans Administration (VA) facilities. MHMC began implementing policies and procedures on July 4, and it is expected that the hospital will be granted “participating provider” status within days.

The PCCC program is an extension network of the VA designed to reduce wait times for primary and specialty care and supplements the federal healthcare system for American armed services veterans.  In New Jersey, it is expected that the program will reduce wait times by 80 percent.

“Independence Day was the best day to begin implementation because of what it represents to this country’s history, and because this program will mark a huge step in helping veterans achieve their healthcare independence,” stated Considine.  “We are thrilled to join the effort to help those who have served our country get great care in a timely fashion. MHMC expects to contribute significantly to reducing to the current 25-day wait time veterans face for initial primary care services here in New Jersey.”

Patient-Centered Community Care  provides eligible veterans access to healthcare through a comprehensive network of community-based, non-VA medical professionals and medical facilities who meet VA quality standards. Referrals are provided to PCCC network facilities when the VA must supplement care outside its own facilities, and the program augments the VA’s ability to provide vital  healthcare services to enrolled veterans. The PCCC program encompasses all or portions of 37 states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

PCCC provides inpatient and outpatient primary care, specialty care and behavioral healthcare for eligible veterans when the local VA Medical Center (VAMC) cannot provide the services due to a lack of available physicians or specialists, long wait times or if there is an extraordinary distance from the veteran’s home. Under the network contract, MHMC expects to see all veterans within 5 days of referral for care. As an added benefit for veterans referred to MHMC, each will be partnered with a personal “health quarterback” to guide them through the healthcare process and help them navigate the the hospital’s various programs and services.  “This program feature, which we believe is unique to MHMC,  illustrates the significance we place on veterans and their selfless service to our country,” concluded Considine.

Covered services under the PCCC program, which are performed at non-VA facilities, will be limited to medical services defined in the referral from the VA. In addition to primary care services, common specialty services covered are inpatient and outpatient healthcare services, including, but not limited to, pathology, radiology/diagnostic imaging, surgery, oncology, gastroenterology, cardiology, labor and delivery, and emergency services.