VA Community Care Mental Health Treatment in Scranton, PA
Veterans in Scranton and throughout northeastern Pennsylvania have earned access to mental health and addiction treatment — and the VA Community Care Network (CCN) makes it possible to receive that care close to home, at a provider that is right for you. If you are enrolled in VA healthcare and cannot get timely care at a VA facility, you may be eligible to receive treatment at a community provider like Provive Wellness in Scranton, PA, with the VA covering the cost through your VA Community Care benefit.
VA Community Care in northeastern Pennsylvania is administered through Optum as part of VA CCN Region 1, which covers the entire northeastern United States. Veterans in Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, Wyoming County, and surrounding NEPA communities are eligible for community care referrals to mental health and substance use treatment providers when the VA cannot provide timely access to those services. Provive Wellness at 1123 Capouse Ave, Scranton, PA 18509 is a community care-accepting behavioral health provider offering PHP, IOP, outpatient therapy, psychiatric care, and MAT to veterans in the Scranton area.
Key Takeaways
- VA Community Care Network (CCN) Region 1 allows eligible veterans in Scranton and NEPA to receive mental health treatment at community providers
- VA CCN in Pennsylvania is administered by Optum on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Covered services include PHP, IOP, individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and MAT
- Veterans are referred through the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center or the Scranton VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic
- Provive Wellness in Scranton, PA accepts VA Community Care referrals for mental health and addiction treatment
Table of Contents
- What Is VA Community Care?
- Who Is Eligible for VA Community Care in Scranton, PA?
- What Mental Health Services Does VA Community Care Cover?
- Does VA Community Care Cover PHP and IOP Near Scranton?
- How VA Community Care Works in Northeastern Pennsylvania
- How to Get a VA Community Care Referral for Mental Health Treatment
- Why Choose Provive Wellness in Scranton for VA Community Care?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is VA Community Care?
VA Community Care is a program administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that allows eligible veterans to receive healthcare — including mental health and substance use disorder treatment — from community providers outside the VA system. It replaced and expanded the older Veterans Choice Program and is now managed through the VA Community Care Network, divided into regional contracts. Region 1 covers the northeastern United States, including all of Pennsylvania, and is administered by Optum.
Community care exists because the VA, while providing excellent care in many areas, does not always have the capacity or geographic reach to provide timely access to every service every veteran needs. When wait times are too long or a VA facility does not offer a specific service, the VA can authorize a veteran to receive that care from a community provider — with the VA paying for the treatment directly. For veterans in Scranton, PA and the surrounding northeastern Pennsylvania region, this means access to specialized behavioral health care at local providers like Provive Wellness without waiting for VA appointment availability.
Who Is Eligible for VA Community Care in Scranton, PA?
To be eligible for VA Community Care, a veteran must first be enrolled in VA healthcare. From there, community care eligibility for mental health treatment is based on the VA’s access standards. A veteran may qualify for community care referral when:
- The VA cannot schedule an appointment within 20 days for primary care or mental health services
- The nearest VA facility offering the needed service is more than 30 minutes away by car
- The VA does not offer the specific service the veteran needs
- The veteran and their VA provider agree that receiving care in the community is in the veteran’s best medical interest
- The veteran requires care for a condition related to military sexual trauma (MST), which the VA covers broadly under community care provisions
Veterans in Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, Wyoming County, Monroe County, and surrounding NEPA communities are served through the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center and the Scranton VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic. If you are unsure whether you qualify for community care, contact your VA primary care provider or call the VA’s eligibility line. Provive Wellness can also help you understand the process and work with your VA care team to get the referral started. Call (610) 947-0800 to speak with our admissions team.
What Mental Health Services Does VA Community Care Cover?
VA Community Care covers a broad range of mental health and substance use disorder services at authorized community providers. The following services are covered at Provive Wellness in Scranton under an active VA Community Care referral:
- Individual outpatient therapy and counseling
- Group therapy sessions
- Psychiatric evaluations and diagnostic assessments
- Psychiatric medication management
- Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for mental health and substance use
- Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) for higher-intensity structured care
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol use disorders
- Telehealth behavioral health services
- PTSD treatment using evidence-based approaches including Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
Coverage is authorized through your specific VA referral and is limited to the services, dates, and provider listed on the authorization. Provive Wellness works directly with Optum and the VA to ensure your authorization is in place and covers the appropriate level of care before your treatment begins. We coordinate this process on your behalf so you can focus entirely on your recovery.
Does VA Community Care Cover PHP and IOP Near Scranton?
Yes. VA Community Care covers both Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) when authorized by the VA and provided by an approved community care provider. Provive Wellness in Scranton, PA is an authorized VA Community Care provider offering both levels of care for veterans in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
PHP at Provive Wellness provides structured daytime treatment 5 to 7 days per week over 4 to 6 weeks. It includes daily individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric medication management, and holistic programming. For veterans dealing with PTSD, depression, anxiety, trauma, or substance use disorders that require intensive clinical support, PHP offers a high level of care without the disruption of inpatient hospitalization. VA Community Care can authorize PHP when the treatment is determined to be medically necessary and consistent with the VA’s community care criteria. Our team works with your VA care team and Optum to secure authorization before your first day of treatment.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
IOP at Provive Wellness runs 3 to 6 days per week over 8 to 12 weeks. It offers structured individual and group therapy in a schedule flexible enough to maintain daily routines, family responsibilities, and employment. IOP is particularly well suited for veterans who are transitioning from a higher level of care, those with moderate symptom severity, or those who benefit from consistent peer support in a clinical setting alongside their ongoing recovery. VA Community Care can authorize IOP for eligible veterans in the Scranton area. Telehealth IOP is also available for veterans who prefer or require remote care.
How VA Community Care Works in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Veterans in the Scranton area are served primarily through two VA facilities. Both can initiate community care referrals for mental health treatment at Provive Wellness in Scranton.
Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center
The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is the primary VA inpatient and specialty care facility serving northeastern Pennsylvania. It provides a wide range of services including mental health, substance use disorder treatment, primary care, and specialty medicine. Veterans enrolled at the Wilkes-Barre VAMC whose mental health appointments are not available within access standards, or whose care needs are best served by a community provider, can request a community care referral through their VA primary care or mental health provider.
Scranton VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic
The Scranton VA CBOC provides primary care and select mental health services to veterans in Lackawanna County and surrounding areas, offering a more convenient local option than traveling to Wilkes-Barre. Veterans enrolled at the Scranton CBOC can also initiate community care referrals for mental health and addiction treatment services that the CBOC does not provide directly, including PHP and IOP. Ask your CBOC provider about your eligibility for community care if you are waiting for a mental health appointment or need a level of care not offered at the clinic.
How to Get a VA Community Care Referral for Mental Health Treatment
The process for accessing VA Community Care mental health treatment in Scranton involves a few straightforward steps. Provive Wellness is here to help you navigate each one:
- Confirm your VA enrollment. You must be enrolled in VA healthcare to receive community care benefits. If you are not yet enrolled, visit va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to begin the enrollment process.
- Contact your VA provider. Call the Wilkes-Barre VAMC or the Scranton CBOC and speak with your primary care or mental health provider. Ask about your eligibility for VA Community Care for mental health or substance use treatment.
- Request a referral to Provive Wellness. Let your VA provider know you would like to receive community care treatment at Provive Wellness at 1123 Capouse Ave, Scranton, PA 18509. Your provider submits the referral through Optum’s community care authorization system.
- Optum issues the authorization. Once approved, Optum sends an authorization to Provive Wellness specifying the approved services, dates, and number of sessions covered.
- Call Provive Wellness at (610) 947-0800. Our admissions team will confirm your authorization details, complete a clinical assessment, and schedule your first appointment. Treatment typically begins within days of authorization.
If you are unsure where to start or want help initiating the referral process, call us at (610) 947-0800. Our team has experience working with VA Community Care and can guide you through the process or communicate directly with your VA care team to help move things forward.
Why Choose Provive Wellness in Scranton for VA Community Care?
Veterans deserve care that understands their experiences — not just their diagnoses. Provive Wellness in Scranton was built to provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment for adults facing mental health and addiction challenges, including the unique pressures and experiences that shape the lives of those who have served.
Our Scranton location at 1123 Capouse Ave is conveniently accessible to veterans throughout Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, and Wyoming County. We treat PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, and co-occurring conditions using evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and trauma-informed care. Our holistic programming — including equine therapy, sound healing, and breathwork — complements clinical treatment with whole-person healing practices that resonate with many veterans in recovery.
Provive Wellness is JCAHO-accredited, meaning our clinical standards meet the rigorous benchmarks required for Joint Commission accreditation. We work with VA Community Care authorizations every day and understand how to communicate with the VA and Optum to ensure your benefits are properly activated and maintained throughout your treatment. Call (610) 947-0800 to speak with our admissions team and take the first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use VA Community Care for mental health treatment in Scranton, PA?
Yes. If you are enrolled in VA healthcare and meet VA Community Care eligibility criteria — such as wait times exceeding VA access standards or a provider agreeing that community care is in your best interest — you can be referred to Provive Wellness in Scranton for mental health or addiction treatment. The referral comes from your VA provider at the Wilkes-Barre VAMC or Scranton CBOC and is administered through Optum.
Does VA Community Care cover IOP near Scranton?
Yes. VA Community Care can authorize Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for eligible veterans in the Scranton area when medically necessary. Provive Wellness at 1123 Capouse Ave, Scranton, PA accepts VA Community Care referrals for IOP. Our team works directly with Optum to confirm your authorization before treatment begins.
Does VA Community Care cover PHP near Scranton?
Yes. VA Community Care can authorize Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) for veterans in northeastern Pennsylvania who meet the clinical criteria for that level of care. Provive Wellness accepts VA Community Care for PHP at its Scranton location. Our admissions team coordinates with your VA provider and Optum to ensure authorization is in place before your first day of treatment.
What VA facility serves veterans in the Scranton area?
Veterans in the Scranton area are primarily served by the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center and the Scranton VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Both facilities can initiate community care referrals for mental health treatment at Provive Wellness. Contact your enrolled VA facility to speak with your primary care or mental health provider about a community care referral.
Does VA Community Care cover PTSD treatment in Scranton, PA?
Yes. PTSD treatment is one of the most commonly authorized services through VA Community Care. Provive Wellness in Scranton provides trauma-informed PTSD treatment using evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, and EMDR. Veterans with PTSD related to combat, military sexual trauma (MST), or other service-connected experiences can receive authorized treatment at Provive Wellness under a VA Community Care referral.
Does VA Community Care cover addiction treatment in Scranton?
Yes. Substance use disorder treatment, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol use disorders, is covered under VA Community Care when medically necessary and authorized. Provive Wellness in Scranton accepts VA Community Care referrals for all levels of addiction treatment. Veterans struggling with alcohol, opioids, or other substance use alongside mental health conditions can receive integrated dual diagnosis treatment at our Scranton location.
Take the Next Step
If you are a veteran in Scranton or northeastern Pennsylvania and are ready to explore mental health or addiction treatment through VA Community Care, Provive Wellness is here to help. Our admissions team will help you understand the referral process, communicate with your VA care team, and ensure your authorization is confirmed before treatment begins.
Provive Wellness in Scranton is located at 1123 Capouse Ave, Scranton, PA 18509, serving veterans throughout Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, Wyoming County, and surrounding northeastern Pennsylvania communities. We offer PHP, IOP, outpatient therapy, psychiatric care, MAT, and telehealth — all in a warm, judgment-free environment built on compassion and hope.
You served your country. You deserve care that meets you where you are. Call (610) 947-0800 today to speak with our admissions team. Same-day appointments are available most times and all care is fully confidential.
