IU Health to Provide Urgent Care for Veterans

IU Health will be among employers in attendance at the career fair.

Indiana University Health says it has been approved as a Veterans Affairs-authorized urgent care provider. The health system says being part of the VA community care network will allow its six urgent care centers to offer care for veterans without prior authorization. The ability for IU Health to offer the expanded coverage for veterans comes under the Mission Act, which was approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last year. 

Melissa Cash, regional administrator for IU Health Urgent Care, tells Inside INdiana Business the health system wanted to be a part of this effort to give back to Hoosier veterans.

"We wanted to be able to offer this service not only to our veterans locally here, but veterans who also are maybe moving to our location in Indiana, maybe relocating here. We can also allow services for them as well," said Cash. "You hear a lot about the medical access and decreasing their wait times to get medical treatment. We wanted to make sure that we were a big part of that initiative and that mission, which is exactly what this Mission Act is, is to get act to our veterans who have served our country and make sure that they get the care they need in a timely manner." 

Cash says veterans can walk into an urgent care facility and the receptionist will call to verify eligibility. To be eligible, a veteran has to have been seen at a VA facility within the past 24 months. Veterans will have access to treatment for non-emergent issues, such as the flu, strep throat, and ear or skin infections, among others. They will also be able to receive diagnostic x-ray and lab services, as well as urgent medication prescriptions. 

IU Health has urgent care centers in Bloomington, Brownsburg, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Lawrence, and Noblesville. A seventh location in Fort Wayne is expected to open later this summer.