If you are enrolled at the Charlotte Hall VA Clinic in St. Mary’s County, your community care requests run through VA Washington DC health care, which oversees the clinic. This guide covers who to contact at each step of navigating VA community care through the Charlotte Hall CBOC and the Washington DC VA Medical Center (VAMC), from the first conversation with your care team to urgent care, emergency notifications and bills. For the full request process, see our step-by-step guide on how to get a VA Community Care referral for mental health in Maryland. This is general information, not benefits advice. VA decides eligibility and approval.
Key Takeaways
- The Charlotte Hall VA Clinic is part of VA Washington DC health care and offers outpatient mental health care (VA’s Charlotte Hall VA Clinic page).
- Community care questions for the Washington DC VA go to 202-745-8000, ext. 58880, or to secure messaging (select Community Care) (VA Washington DC health care’s community care fact sheet).
- All non-emergency community appointments must be preauthorized for VA to pay (Office of Community Care).
- Urgent care needs no referral but must be at an in-network provider. Emergency care at a non-VA hospital must be reported to VA within 72 hours (VA Washington DC health care’s community care fact sheet).
- In a crisis, call 911, go to the nearest ER, or call or text 988. Veterans can press 1 after calling 988 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
The Charlotte Hall VA Clinic and the Washington DC VA
According to VA’s Charlotte Hall VA Clinic page, the clinic is at 29640 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622, and is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It offers primary care and specialty services, including mental health care, social work and telehealth. The VA Washington DC contact page also lists VA clinics in Lexington Park, Camp Springs and Gaithersburg, Maryland, along with the main Washington DC VA Medical Center at 50 Irving Street NW.
Because Charlotte Hall is a VA Washington DC clinic, the Washington DC VA’s Office of Community Care handles its community care questions, not the VA Maryland Health Care System in Baltimore.
Who to Call at Each Step
Keep this list handy. Every number below comes from a va.gov page, and VA can change contact details, so check the linked page if a number does not connect.
| If you need to… | Who VA lists | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ask about mental health care at the clinic | Mental Health Service, 202-745-8000, ext. 52367 | Charlotte Hall VA Clinic |
| Ask a community care question | Office of Community Care, 202-745-8000, ext. 58880, or secure message (select Community Care) | VA Washington DC fact sheet |
| Ask how many approved visits you have left | 877-881-7618 (TTY: 711), Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET | VA referral guide |
| Report emergency care at a non-VA hospital | 844-724-7842, within 72 hours | VA Washington DC fact sheet |
| Get help using urgent care in Maryland or D.C. | 888-901-6609 | VA urgent care page |
| Ask about a VA copay statement | 866-400-1238 (TTY: 711), Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET | VA copay bill page |
| Ask about a bill from an approved in-network community provider | 877-881-7618 (TTY: 711) | VA copay bill page |
| Resolve a problem with your VA care | Patient Advocate, Office of Patient Experience & Advocacy, 202-745-8588 | VA Washington DC contact page |
Start Your Referral at Charlotte Hall CBOC
Community care starts with your VA care team, not with the community provider. Tell your primary care or mental health provider at Charlotte Hall what kind of care you are looking for and ask whether community care is an option. If you already have a community provider in mind, say so. According to VA’s referral and scheduling guide, VA will contact you to confirm that you want community care and the type of appointment you need, and preparing the referral can take up to 14 days.
To reach the clinic’s Mental Health Service, VA’s Charlotte Hall VA Clinic page lists 202-745-8000, ext. 52367. VA also says all of its health care facilities offer same-day mental health help. For written questions, you can use VA secure messaging and select Community Care, as VA Washington DC health care’s community care fact sheet describes.
Charlotte Hall Care or a Community Provider?
Community care is not automatic. According to VA’s community care eligibility page, you must be enrolled in or eligible for VA health care and have VA approval before you see a community provider. For mental health care, VA uses a 30-minute average drive time and a 20-day wait time as two of its access standards, and you and your VA provider can also agree that community care is in your best medical interest. You can always choose to keep your care at a VA facility. Our overview of VA Community Care Network behavioral health in Maryland explains the full eligibility criteria.
If you get care at Charlotte Hall and the drive or wait does not work for you, tell your care team plainly how far you travel and how soon you were offered an appointment, so they can apply VA’s standards to your situation.
What Happens After VA Approves Your Care
The Washington DC VA says all non-emergency community appointments must be preauthorized for VA pay (Office of Community Care). Once VA approves your care, three steps carry you from approval to your first visit.
Understanding Your Authorization
Your referral tells you which community provider VA approved, what care is covered and for how long. According to VA’s referral and scheduling guide, VA shares your health records with your community provider so they can coordinate your care. Check that the provider and services match what you asked for, and keep a copy for your records. If anything looks wrong, contact the Office of Community Care before you book.
Scheduling Your Appointment
After you have your referral, VA’s referral and scheduling guide says you can schedule the appointment yourself or ask your VA health care team to schedule it for you. If you schedule it yourself, tell VA the date and time within 14 days. Booking a routine visit before VA approves it can leave you with a bill.
Preparing For Your Visit
Bring a photo ID, your referral details and a current list of medications. If your community provider recommends care your referral does not list, ask your VA care team before that care happens. If you are eligible, VA travel pay may help with the cost of getting to appointments; VA’s Charlotte Hall VA Clinic page also notes Disabled American Veterans van service and beneficiary travel for scheduled VA appointments.
Renew Your Referral Before Therapy Lapses
Needing more visits than your first referral covers is common. VA’s referral and scheduling guide says that if you need more care, you or your community provider can request a new referral, and you can call 877-881-7618 (TTY: 711) to ask how many appointments you have left. Ask before your approved visits or end date run out, and wait for VA’s approval before booking more routine visits.
Use Urgent Care for Minor Illness, Not a Crisis
According to VA’s urgent care page, enrolled veterans who have had care from VA or an in-network provider in the past 24 months can use urgent care at VA or at in-network urgent care centers for minor injuries and illnesses, without a referral. Confirm the clinic is in VA’s network before you are seen, bring a photo ID and VA’s urgent care billing information card, and do not pay a copay at the visit. For help using the benefit in Maryland or Washington, D.C., VA lists 888-901-6609. Family members cannot use your urgent care benefit.
Urgent care is not crisis care. If you are in crisis, call 911, go to the nearest ER, or call or text 988.
Know the 72-Hour Emergency Notification Rule
If you think your life or health is in danger, go to the nearest emergency department; you do not need to check with VA first. If you are treated at a non-VA hospital, VA Washington DC health care’s community care fact sheet asks that VA be notified within 72 hours of the emergency care or admission by calling 844-724-7842. VA’s emergency care page says VA prefers that the hospital make the notification, but you or someone acting for you can do it instead.
For a mental health emergency, VA’s emergency care page says that in most cases VA will provide or cover emergency mental health care and up to 90 days of related services, even if you are not enrolled in VA health care, when you meet its service requirements. Tell emergency staff you are a veteran and ask them to contact VA right away.
Who to Call for Bills and Community Care Problems
VA’s copay bill page lists 866-400-1238 (TTY: 711) for questions about a VA copay statement and 877-881-7618 (TTY: 711) if you receive a bill from an approved in-network community care provider. VA charges copays for care not related to a service-connected condition, at VA’s current copay rates.
If you have trouble getting care or resolving an issue with VA, the VA Washington DC contact page lists the Patient Advocate in the Office of Patient Experience & Advocacy at 202-745-8588.
Behavioral Health Care at Blue Sails
Blue Sails offers outpatient therapy for individuals, couples and families in Lusby, in Bethesda or by telehealth across Maryland. Psychiatric medication management is available in Maryland. Blue Sails accepts insurance, including TRICARE, and our team can review your coverage options with you before you start; see insurance and billing.
Our page on care for Maryland veterans and military families covers how therapy, psychiatry and family support work at Blue Sails, and our guide to veteran and military mental health covers planning care around military life. When you’re ready, you can request an appointment. Blue Sails is not an emergency service.
Crisis Support for Southern Maryland Veterans
If you are in crisis, call 911, go to the nearest ER, or call or text 988. Veterans, service members and their families can press 1 after calling 988 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, text 838255, or chat online, 24/7. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care or have a community care referral to reach crisis support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Charlotte Hall VA Clinic part of the Washington DC VA?
Yes. VA lists the Charlotte Hall VA Clinic as part of VA Washington DC health care, so community care questions go to the Washington DC VA Office of Community Care at 202-745-8000, ext. 58880 (VA’s Charlotte Hall VA Clinic page; VA Washington DC health care’s community care fact sheet).
Do I need approval before seeing a community provider?
Yes, for non-emergency care. The Washington DC VA says all non-emergency community appointments must be preauthorized for VA pay (Office of Community Care). Urgent care at an in-network provider and emergency care follow separate rules.
How long does VA take to prepare a community care referral?
VA’s referral and scheduling guide says preparing the referral can take up to 14 days. If you then schedule the appointment yourself, tell VA within 14 days.
Will I owe a copay for mental health visits through community care?
It depends on your situation. VA charges copays for care not related to a service-connected condition, and some veterans are exempt. Check VA’s current copay rates or call 866-400-1238 (TTY: 711) with questions about a VA copay statement.
Can my spouse or dependent use my community care referral?
No. VA community care referrals are for eligible veterans, and VA says family members cannot use your urgent care benefit. Family members may have other options: Vet Centers offer counseling for eligible veterans, service members and their families, some family members qualify for CHAMPVA, and military families may use TRICARE, which Blue Sails accepts.