Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (GeriPACT)

What you get

A VA care team that gives ongoing health care to Veterans with complex care needs. GeriPACT offers chronic care management, routine mental health care, pain care, advance care planning, and help for caregivers, and coordinates VA care with services in the community.

Who GeriPACT is for

1. 1Enrollment in VA health careVA care in the medical benefits package starts with enrollment, with a few exceptions, such as care for a Veteran with a service-connected rating of 50 percent or more.
2. 2Complex care needs, not an ageGeriPACT serves Veterans with one or more of these: more than one chronic disease, declining physical abilities, or challenges with thinking or memory. VA also names dementia, geriatric syndromes such as frailty, falls, or taking many medicines, and caregiver burden. Being 65 or older appears only as one example of a geriatric syndrome.

Source: 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.37(a) (opens in new tab); VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (GeriPACT) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)

Which kind of care is this?

• Care from a GeriPACT team

  GeriPACT stands for Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team. VA calls it a geriatric medical home: a care team that gives geriatric evaluation and ongoing health care to Veterans with complex care needs. Its goal is as much independence and quality of life as possible, combining VA care with services offered in the community.

  Source: VA.gov: Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (GeriPACT) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab)

• A geriatric evaluation

  A geriatric evaluation is a visit with a team of experts that ends in a treatment plan to help you keep good health, improve quality of life, reduce hospital stays and the need for long-term care, and stay independent. VA says it is an option for all enrolled Veterans who need it, as often as it is needed. It is an extended care service: VA provides it only if a VA health care professional finds it needed, and extended care has its own copay rules and form, VA Form 10-10EC.

  1. 1A VA provider finds the evaluation neededCare in the medical benefits package is provided only if appropriate health care professionals find it is needed to promote, preserve, or restore your health and it is in accord with generally accepted standards of medical practice. Geriatric evaluation without an overnight stay is part of that package.
  2. 2VA Form 10-10EC, unless a copay exemption appliesUnless an exemption applies to you, the rule says you give VA Form 10-10EC when you first ask for extended care, and again at the times under Time limits. If you decline to give financial details on the form, VA charges the maximum copay.

  Source: VA.gov: geriatric evaluation (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(c)(3) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(e) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(B) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(f) (opens in new tab); VA Form 10-10EC (opens in new tab)

Time limits

For extended care such as a geriatric evaluation, unless a copay exemption applies to you, give VA Form 10-10EC to your VA medical facility when you first ask, after a break of more than 30 days, and each year when you update your health care financial information. While you get extended care, report changes that might change your copay by giving your VA medical facility a new VA Form 10-10EC within 10 days of the change.

What to gather, and what it shows VA

You talk this through with your VA provider. BeneVets does not ask for copies of anything or for details about your health.

Steps, in order

1. Free help with VA enrollment

   GeriPACT is not a VA claim, but a VSO can help with the VA health care application. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.

   Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)

2. Enroll in VA health care

   Apply for VA health care with VA Form 10-10EZ, online, by phone, by mail, or in person. If you are already enrolled, skip this step.

   Source: VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab)

3. Ask your provider about GeriPACT

   Ask your VA health care provider whether GeriPACT is offered where you get care and whether it is right for you.

   Source: VA.gov: Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (GeriPACT) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)

4. Ask about a geriatric evaluation

   A geriatric evaluation can be done in a clinic or hospital, in person, by telehealth, by phone, or through a review of your medical record, and may take more than one visit. Afterward, the team shares a plan with you and your caregiver.

   Source: VA.gov: geriatric evaluation (opens in new tab)

5. Bring your caregiver

   VA says caregivers are welcome and encouraged to come to evaluation visits. GeriPACT also assesses caregiver needs and coordinates services for the Veteran and caregiver, inside and outside VA.

   Source: VA.gov: geriatric evaluation (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (GeriPACT) (opens in new tab)

6. Give VA Form 10-10EC if no exemption applies

   For extended care such as a geriatric evaluation, give VA Form 10-10EC to your VA medical facility at the times under Time limits, unless a copay exemption applies to you. While you get extended care, report changes that might change your copay, such as in marital status, income, assets, expenses, or whether a spouse or dependent lives in the community, on a new VA Form 10-10EC. If you are not sure whether you need the form, ask your VA medical facility.

   Source: VA Form 10-10EC (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(e) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(f) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)

7. Ask a VA social worker or call the hotline

   Contact your VA social worker, or call the VA hotline at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

   Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)

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