VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System                                      

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) is in its transition phase from the South Texas Veterans

Health Care System (STVHCS) and will become an independent VA health care system by October 2010.  The VATVCBHCS is

comprised of 20 counties in far south Texas and encompasses the Laredo, McAllen, Harlingen, and Corpus Christi Outpatient Clinic

service areas. 

Valley Veterans Inpatient & Emergency Room Contracts 

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) is addressing the inpatient medical, emergency, surgical and

mental health needs of Valley Veterans through contractual agreements with two local community health care systems, Valley Baptist

Health System and South Texas Health System.  Effective April 13, 2009, enrolled Veterans have been able to utilize the Valley

Baptist Hospitals in Harlingen and Brownsville, as well as South Texas Health System facilities in McAllen and Edinburg for inpatient

and emergency room services. 

As we embark on the new contracts, it is vital we all understand the fundamental process for obtaining health care under these 

contracts:

·         Any eligible enrolled Veteran within the VA health care system is eligible to be treated in one of the contracted hospitals:

o   If you are not enrolled, you may enroll at your local VA medical center or VA

     clinic.

o   Be sure to bring your VA ID card with you when you go the contracted hospital

     or emergency room.

·         The contract is specifically for inpatient hospital care (Medicine, Surgery, and Mental Health Services) or medical emergency care.

·         You must obtain pre-authorization to receive inpatient care at a contracted facility through your primary care physician:

o    If care is unauthorized, you will be liable for all costs.

·         In case of an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room:

o   VA will pay for care in the contracted emergency room that is deemed a true medical emergency by the hospital ER

staff.

o   At a non-contracted emergency room, authorization for care falls under the Millennium Health Benefits Act and the VA

will pay if the Veteran meets the eligibility criteria.

·         If you receive care in the emergency room of a contracted facility that is not deemed an emergency by the ER staff, you may be

responsible for the bill.

The Rural Mobile Medical Unit  

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System is proud to announce the activation of the Rural Mobile Medical Unit providing

health care to our rural South Texas Veterans.  Twice a month, this unit visits the rural South Texas communities of:

• Rio Grande City (VFW 8526)

• Roma (VFW Post 9175)

• Zapata (American Legion Post 486)

• Hebbronville (Jim Hogg Co. Courthouse)

• Falfurrias (VFW Post 7634)

• Port Isabel (American Legion Post 498)

                                                           (Click on the Mobile Unit Above for FAQ's)

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System has partnered up with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts (VFW), American

Legion Posts, and Counties to utilize their locations as the sites of care in which the unit will visit .  Services provided on the unit

include routine primary care, preventative care services, and limited mental health services.  

If you are an Veteran enrolled in the VA health care system and reside in one of the communities listed above and interested in

receiving your primary care on the mobile medical unit please contact your VA Outpatient Clinic to schedule an appointment:

Laredo Outpatient Clinic: (956) 523-7850

McAllen Outpatient Clinic: (956) 618-7145 Or dial toll free: 1-866-622-5536

Harlingen Health Care Center: (956) 366-4500

Corpus Christi Outpatient Clinic: (361) 806-5645 Or dial toll free: 1-877-672-8222

                               **Please note, the mobile medical unit is by APPOINTMENT ONLY.

Ambulatory Surgery and Specialty Outpatient Center

A three story, 120,000 sq.ft. Ambulatory Surgery & Specialty Outpatient Center is scheduled to open in January 2011.  It will offer

a full range of outpatient services including six surgical suites, colonoscopy and cystoscopy suites, medicine and surgery

specialty outpatient clinics, prosthetics care, amputee clinic, and a substance abuse treatment clinic. This center will also include 

a parking garage adjacent to the facility.