CHAMPVA provider portal, phone and payer ID quick facts
| Provider portal | https://department.va.gov/vha/community-care/family-member-care/champva/ |
|---|---|
| Provider phone | 1-800-733-8387 |
| Claims payer ID | 84146 |
| Eligibility payer ID | VAHAC |
| ERA payer ID | 84146 |
| Timely filing | 365 days |
| Prior auth route | Provider portal or policy document |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-23 |
CHAMPVA at a glance
| Legal name | Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs |
|---|---|
| Also known as | VA CHAMPVA, Veterans Affairs CHAMPVA |
| Category | Government program |
| Parent organization | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Claims payer ID | 84146 |
| Eligibility (270/271) payer ID | VAHAC |
| ERA (835) payer ID | 84146 |
| NAIC company code | Not published |
| States covered | Nationwide (50 states) |
| Members covered | ~2.0 million members |
| Provider portal | https://department.va.gov/vha/community-care/family-member-care/champva/ |
| Provider phone | 1-800-733-8387 |
Always verify claims-routing details against the member ID card and the payer's current EDI companion guide before submission.
Timely filing & appeals for CHAMPVA
CHAMPVA's standard timely filing window for participating providers is 365 days from the date of service. Plan-specific products (Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, employer groups, secondary claims) may have shorter or longer windows — always confirm against the policy linked below before disputing a TFL denial.
| Submission type | Window |
|---|---|
| In-network initial claim | 365 days |
| Out-of-network initial claim | 365 days (verify per plan) |
| Secondary / coordination of benefits | 365 days from primary EOB |
| Corrected / appeal | 365 days from denial |
Appeal levels
- Level 1: CHAMPVA appeal requestFile within 365 days
Written appeal for a denied service, benefit, or eligibility determination within one year of the EOB or decision letter.
- Level 2: Second VA reviewFile within 90 days
Second review request within 90 days of the initial appeal decision when the claimant still disagrees.
Source: CHAMPVA provider policy. Always confirm before disputing a TFL denial — payer policies are versioned and product-specific.
Prior authorization with CHAMPVA
CHAMPVA does not currently accept X12 278 prior-authorization transactions; submit via portal or fax. The procedures most commonly subject to prior authorization include advanced imaging, inpatient admissions, specialty pharmacy, and certain outpatient surgical procedures. Use the payer's authorization tool below to confirm requirements per CPT before scheduling a service.
CHAMPVA maintains a live prior-authorization code lookup tool that supersedes any cached list. Use the provider portal or the policy documents below to confirm the current PA list before rendering a service.
Top denial reasons for CHAMPVA
Per-payer denial benchmarks publish here once the QuickIntell anonymized ETL pipeline ingests sufficient CHAMPVA volume. Until then, see the broader CARC reference for industry-wide remediation guides.
Electronic claims, eligibility & ERA
| Transaction | Supported | Payer ID |
|---|---|---|
| 837P / 837I claims | Yes | 84146 |
| 270 / 271 eligibility | Yes | VAHAC |
| 278 prior authorization | No | VAHAC |
| 835 ERA | Yes | 84146 |
Payer IDs vary by clearinghouse — confirm against your clearinghouse payer list (Availity, Change Healthcare/Optum, Waystar) before configuring submitter routing.
What revenue cycle teams should verify before submitting claims
- Use 84146 for CHAMPVA medical claims, but use VAHAC for real-time eligibility transactions when connecting through VA/Optum guidance.
- Verify eligibility before service because CHAMPVA has no provider network and eligibility depends on the beneficiary's VA family-member status and other insurance.
- Preauthorization is limited to specific categories such as dental care, organ and bone marrow transplants, and many mental health or substance use services.
Common denial and routing risks for this payer
- Submitting dental claims under the medical payer ID instead of the separate CHAMPVA dental routing.
- Missing other-health-insurance coordination when Medicare or another payer should process first.
- Appealing without the EOB or decision letter that starts the CHAMPVA appeal clock.
How QuickIntell supports this workflow
- Separate CHAMPVA medical, dental, eligibility, and remit routing rules in payer setup.
- Prompt staff to capture Medicare/OHI evidence before CHAMPVA claim submission.
- Track preauthorization and appeal deadlines from the EOB or decision-letter date, not from internal workqueue dates.
Sources used for this guide
QuickIntell coverage for CHAMPVA
Frequently asked questions about CHAMPVA
Where is the CHAMPVA provider portal?
The CHAMPVA provider portal is available at https://department.va.gov/vha/community-care/family-member-care/champva/. Use it for eligibility checks, claim status, prior authorization workflows, appeals, and payer-specific routing updates. QuickIntell links to the payer's provider-facing portal as a reference and is not the official payer portal.
What is the timely filing limit for CHAMPVA?
CHAMPVA's standard timely filing limit for participating providers is 365 days from the date of service. Plan-specific products (Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, employer groups) may have different windows — confirm against the payer's provider manual before disputing a TFL denial.
What is the CHAMPVA payer ID?
The primary claims payer ID for CHAMPVA is 84146. Eligibility (270/271) uses VAHAC and ERA (835) uses 84146. Always verify against the member ID card and your clearinghouse payer list before submitting.
Does CHAMPVA accept electronic claims?
Yes — CHAMPVA accepts ANSI X12 837P and 837I electronic claims through standard clearinghouses. Real-time eligibility (270/271) is supported and X12 278 prior authorization is not currently supported.
How do I appeal a CHAMPVA denial?
CHAMPVA uses a 2-level appeal process. Level 1 (CHAMPVA appeal request) must be filed within 365 days of the denial. Each escalation level requires the prior decision letter and supporting clinical or coding documentation. See the appeal-levels block above for deadlines and process.
How long do CHAMPVA prior authorization approvals take?
CHAMPVA's prior-authorization decision turnaround typically follows standard industry windows: 72 hours for urgent requests and up to 14 calendar days for non-urgent requests. Specialty drugs and high-cost imaging may extend further. Submit through the CHAMPVA provider portal for the fastest turnaround.
What is the CHAMPVA provider phone number?
Providers can reach CHAMPVA at 1-800-733-8387 for claims status, eligibility verification, and authorization questions. Have the member ID, date of service, and tax ID ready before calling. Most operational tasks are faster through the provider portal at https://department.va.gov/vha/community-care/family-member-care/champva/.
Run cleaner claims to CHAMPVA with QuickIntell
QuickAuth, QuickRCM, and QuickERA are validated against CHAMPVA's EDI behavior — eligibility, prior auth, claim scrubbing, and ERA posting all run on real payer rules.
Disclaimer
This page is operational reference for medical-billing professionals. It is not legal, clinical, or contractual advice. Payer policies change without notice — always verify against CHAMPVA's current published documents before submission. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.