Veterans — VA Community Care & TRICARE
Psychiatric care for veterans: VA Community Care, TriWest and TRICARE
Better Place Now provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management for veterans across Arizona by secure video, with Dr. Justin Schwarting, DNP, PMHNP-BC. The practice accepts VA Community Care referrals, with VA billed directly, and TRICARE through TriWest. Eligibility comes from VA or TRICARE, and benefits are verified before scheduling.
- First visit
- 60 minutesA full hour
- Coverage
- VA · TRICAREVerified per patient
- Setting
- Video statewideEvenings and weekends
- With a VA referral
- $0VA is billed directly
VA Community Care and TRICARE are different programs
VA Community Care lets enrolled veterans see a community provider when VA approves it, generally before the visit. For mental health, VA's access standards are an average 30-minute drive time or a 20-day wait, and VA decides eligibility (VA.gov (opens in a new tab)).
TRICARE is the health program for service members, retirees and their families. Better Place Now accepts TRICARE Prime and Select through TriWest, and TRICARE For Life with Medicare; spouses, children and teens are seen under TRICARE. Arizona is in the TRICARE West Region (TRICARE regions (opens in a new tab)), where TriWest Healthcare Alliance is the contractor (TRICARE West (opens in a new tab)). That includes families at Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, seen by secure video anywhere in Arizona or in person in the Phoenix area by arrangement. Tell the team which program applies to you so the right benefits are checked.
VA or TRICARE makes the coverage decision
For VA Community Care, a VA referral is required. With a Community Care referral, the practice bills VA directly and you owe nothing out of pocket. For TRICARE, whether you need a referral depends on your plan. Visit notes can be sent back to VA if you want.
How to start care
Step 1: Check eligibility or authorization
For Community Care, ask your VA care team or scheduler. For TRICARE, check your plan's behavioral-health rules.
Step 2: Call, text, or email
Say which program you are using. Scheduling needs no health details.
Step 3: Benefits verified
The team confirms coverage before scheduling is confirmed and usually replies within one business day.
Step 4: A full-hour first visit
By secure video anywhere in Arizona, with evening and weekend times available.
Trauma-aware care at your pace
Many veterans seek care for reactions to trauma, along with sleep problems, anxiety, depression or questions about current medications. You decide how much of your history to share and when. Medication decisions are explained plainly, including their purpose and tradeoffs. The Journal's guide to VA Community Care for mental health in Arizona covers the pathway in more detail.
Visits are by secure video anywhere in Arizona, or in person in the Phoenix area by arrangement. You must be physically located in Arizona at the time of a video visit.
Veterans Crisis Line
If you are in crisis, dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or call 911. It is free, confidential and open 24/7.
How much does a visit cost?
What you pay depends on VA's authorization or your TRICARE plan. The team verifies benefits and explains the expected cost before the first visit.
- VA Community Care Network
- TriWest / TRICARE
- Traditional Medicare
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
- UMR
- Cigna / Evernorth
- MultiPlan
- Banner Health Plans
- AHCCCS
- Banner-University Family Care (AHCCCS)
- American Indian Health Program (AHCCCS)
A plan name on this list is not a coverage guarantee. Participation and what you owe depend on your specific plan, so benefits are verified before scheduling is confirmed. Plan list last checked October 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, with a VA Community Care referral. VA decides eligibility and authorization. With a referral, the practice bills VA directly and you owe nothing out of pocket.
For VA Community Care, yes. For TRICARE, it depends on your plan; the team checks when it verifies your benefits.
TRICARE Prime and Select through TriWest, and TRICARE For Life with Medicare. Spouses, children and teens are seen under TRICARE. Benefits are verified before scheduling.
Yes. Secure video visits are available anywhere in Arizona, including evenings and weekends. You must be physically located in Arizona at the time of the visit.
No. Dr. Justin Schwarting is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (DNP, PMHNP-BC), not a physician. He provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management.
Related pages
- VA Community Care for mental healthHow the pathway works, with VA sources
- Insurance & self-payEvery plan on the list, and self-pay rates
- Anxiety & depression careA full hour before any decision
Sources
- Eligibility for community care outside VA (opens in a new tab), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- West Region (opens in a new tab), TRICARE, Defense Health Agency (2026)
- Which states are in each TRICARE region? (opens in a new tab), TRICARE, Defense Health Agency (2026)
Practice details on this page were last checked October 9, 2026. General information, not medical advice. See the editorial policy.
Request care through VA Community Care or TRICARE.
Tell the team which program you are using. Benefits are verified before scheduling, and the first visit is a full 60 minutes by secure video anywhere in Arizona.
No health details are needed to schedule. Scheduling calls, texts, and email are not monitored for emergencies: call or text 988, or call 911.