36C25519Q0564-004.pdf

Department of Veterans Affair MEDICAL CENTER MEMORANDUM 122-06 VA St. Louis Healthcare System September 1, 2016 St. Louis, Missouri

HOPTEL LODGING SERVICES

1. PURPOSE. To provide policy and guidance for the provision of temporary lodging.

2. POLICY.

a. The St, Louis VA Health Care System utilizes a contract hotel to provide temporary lodging services where distance and scheduling render same day travel to/from ordered appointments/procedures unfeasible.

b. Scheduling of appointments or procedures for those travelling long distances is to be performed as to minimize the need for overnight travel by offering alternatives such as mid-day slots.

c. Fisher House options are to be explored prior to requesting a Hoptel stay when a spouse or caregiver is accompanying the veteran. Extended stays involving family members are also most appropriately addressed by the Fisher House program.

d. CHAMPVA beneficiaries are not eligible for VA-paid Hoptel services.

e. Eligibility Criteria:

(1) The veteran must be required to travel either 100 miles or at least two (2) hours from home to the St. Louis VA Health Care facility. Exceptional circumstances, such as condition of the veteran, inclement weather, road conditions, or the mode of transportation used by the veteran may be considered.

(2) The scheduled appointment/procedure must be Early (prior to 9:00am) or Late after 4:00pm) in the day as to render same-day travel unreasonable based on the Veteran’s anticipated condition. Such appointments could be for the following: veterans undergoing extensive treatment such as chemotherapy, same day surgery, diagnostic work-up, or other similar procedures.

(3) Veterans must be medically stable and capable of self-care with the ability to stay in an unsupervised setting. Family members and/or caregivers may not reside in the contract hotel without the veteran.

(4) Temporary lodging for the veteran may be provided for a single night before or following the scheduled care depending on circumstances.

(5) Any exception to or deviation from these criteria is at the discretion of the Medical Center Director or designee.

3. ACTION.

a. The clinic scheduling the veteran’s appointment must complete the Social Work Hoptel consult available in CPRS.

(1) Consults are to be entered no less than 3 business days prior to the requested lodging service and may be entered up to 30 days in advance. Reservations are based upon vacancy of rooms and may not be available at all times so advance notice is strongly recommended. In the case of emergent situations, reservations may be attempted before noon on the day service is required.

Department of Veterans Affair MEDICAL CENTER MEMORANDUM 122-06 VA St. Louis Healthcare System September 1, 2016 St. Louis, Missouri

(2) The Program Support Assistant (PSA) will determine if the veteran meets the eligibility criteria based upon the information received in the consult. The hotel POC will be contacted and confirmation # acquired. The Veterans then will be contacted by the SWS PSA and advised of specifics of the hotel and other information.

b. Transportation to and from the hotel as well as any meals are the responsibility of the veteran. Veterans Transportation Services (VTS) may be available for transit in some instances and must be arranged by the clinic at the time lodging services are requested.

c. In the event that the procedure/appointment is cancelled, the Hoptel Consult is to be cancelled by the clinic at the same time to minimize potential waste.

d. Veterans with a Category 1 Behavioral Patient Record Flag or a Suicide Risk Flag may be considered for lodging following consultation with the Behavioral Health Team.

4. REFERENCES. VHA Directive 2003-009 dated February 7, 2003 (Corrected copy) Section 1708 of Tile 38 US Code (USC)

5. RESCISSIONS. Policy Memorandum 00-04 dated January 13, 2009

6. RESPONSIBILITY. Social Work Service (122JC) will administer and manage the Veteran’s Hoptel Program utilizing the SOCIAL WORK HOPTEL consult available in CPRS. VA hotel contracts will be utilized as per contracting procedure.

7. REVIEW DATE. September 2018

KEITH REPKO

Acting, Medical Center Director