Concurrent Care is possible for Veterans receiving hospice services. Veterans facing serious illness often have unique healthcare needs. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), eligible veterans may benefit from Concurrent Care, a program that allows them to receive hospice services while continuing to access certain VA-covered treatments and supportive services. Although this program officially started between 2009 and 2012 as part of the Veterans Health Administration Comprehensive End of Life Care initiative, it is only now starting to be more broadly used.
To be eligible for Concurrent Care, a veteran must be enrolled in VA health care, meet the clinical criteria for hospice care as determined by a physician, and receive approval from their VA healthcare team. The veteran must also have a terminal illness with a life expectancy generally considered to be six months or less if the disease follows its expected course. Eligibility and covered services are determined on an individual basis by the VA.
Unlike the traditional Medicare hospice model, which generally requires patients to forgo curative treatment related to their terminal diagnosis, VA Concurrent Care provides greater flexibility. Veterans can receive comfort-focused hospice care while still pursuing treatments that may improve quality of life, manage symptoms, or address other health conditions.
This approach supports veteran-centered care by honoring individual goals, values, and treatment preferences. It also allows veterans and their families more time to adjust to hospice services without feeling they must choose between comfort care and ongoing medical treatment.
Collaboration between hospice providers and VA healthcare teams is essential to ensure seamless communication, coordinated care, and the best possible outcomes. By working together, both organizations can help veterans receive compassionate, comprehensive care that respects their service and supports their end-of-life journey. Concurrent Care reflects the VA’s commitment to providing veterans with choices, dignity, and personalized care during one of life’s most challenging transitions.
To learn more about this please visit va.gov, wehonorveterans.org or capc.org (Center to Advance Palliative Care).
[This post was written by the Director of Supportive Care, Teri Schmitchen at Angela Hospice]