What a family doctor does
Family doctors handle preventive care, everyday illness, chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and the coordination of specialist care. Many CHAMPVA families use a family doctor as the home base for the whole household.
What CHAMPVA covers for family medicine
CHAMPVA covers office visits, sick visits, and chronic-condition management as outpatient care after the $50 yearly deductible, with a 25 percent cost share. Preventive care is covered too: federal regulation specifically covers an annual physical examination, immunizations recommended by the CDC, cancer screenings, and well-child care. No referral is needed for anything a family doctor orders, including specialist visits and diagnostic tests.
Find family doctors who can bill CHAMPVA, by state
Pick your state. The search opens with the Family medicine filter already selected and shows real practice locations from the federal NPPES registry, with street addresses and local phone numbers. Then call with the 20-second script to confirm CHAMPVA.
Family Doctors who accept Medicare assignment, by state
Clinicians who accept Medicare assignment can bill CHAMPVA, so these counts from the federal CMS Doctors and Clinicians registry (updated 2026-09-07) show how deep the bench is in each state. National total: 195,621.
| State | Family Doctors |
|---|---|
| California | 23,102 |
| Texas | 16,460 |
| Florida | 11,756 |
| Illinois | 9,744 |
| Pennsylvania | 9,351 |
| New York | 6,947 |
| Michigan | 6,869 |
| Ohio | 6,518 |
| North Carolina | 6,237 |
| Minnesota | 6,062 |
| Washington | 5,732 |
| Georgia | 5,604 |
| Wisconsin | 5,188 |
| Virginia | 4,943 |
| Indiana | 4,250 |
| Colorado | 4,101 |
| Missouri | 3,751 |
| Tennessee | 3,588 |
| Oregon | 3,380 |
| Maryland | 3,271 |
| New Jersey | 3,234 |
| Arizona | 3,218 |
| South Carolina | 3,066 |
| Iowa | 2,709 |
| Massachusetts | 2,685 |
| Kentucky | 2,661 |
| Oklahoma | 2,425 |
| Alabama | 2,391 |
| Arkansas | 2,176 |
| Kansas | 2,146 |
| Louisiana | 2,074 |
| Idaho | 1,763 |
| Utah | 1,600 |
| West Virginia | 1,463 |
| Mississippi | 1,444 |
| Maine | 1,374 |
| New Mexico | 1,319 |
| Nebraska | 1,208 |
| Nevada | 1,166 |
| Connecticut | 1,087 |
| Alaska | 956 |
| Montana | 918 |
| South Dakota | 911 |
| New Hampshire | 843 |
| Hawaii | 838 |
| North Dakota | 671 |
| Vermont | 603 |
| Delaware | 566 |
| Washington DC | 480 |
| Rhode Island | 390 |
| Wyoming | 382 |
Common questions
Does CHAMPVA cover annual physicals?
Yes. Federal regulation lists an annual physical examination, CDC-recommended immunizations, and cancer screenings as covered preventive care.
Do I need a referral from my family doctor to see a specialist with CHAMPVA?
No. CHAMPVA does not require referrals. Your family doctor can recommend a specialist, but CHAMPVA will not deny a specialist claim for lack of a referral.
Can a nurse practitioner be my family's primary care provider under CHAMPVA?
Yes. CHAMPVA covers care from nurse practitioners and physician assistants the same way it covers physician care.
Related guides
Sources
- CHAMPVA care: what is covered and what it costs (VA.gov)
- Getting care through CHAMPVA: network, referrals, and preauthorization (VA.gov)
- CHAMPVA provider fact sheet, VA IB-10-1587 (PDF)
- 38 CFR 17.272, CHAMPVA benefit limitations and exclusions (eCFR)
General information, not medical or insurance advice. Coverage rules are set by the VA and federal regulation and can change; confirm with CHAMPVA at 800-733-8387 before treatment.