At Grow Therapy, we partner with the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) to make sure you can access fully covered mental health services without disruption. A key part of that is keeping your authorization active. This article explains how VA authorizations work, how to check your status, and what to do if yours is approaching expiration.
🌟 Coverage: This article applies to clients whose mental health care is covered through a VA partnership. If you're unsure whether this applies to you, check your My Coverage tab in the Client Portal or contact our support team.
Key Points
Your authorization must be active for you to schedule appointments with your Grow provider.
Authorizations are valid for a set time period or number of sessions. Your provider is responsible for requesting a renewal through your Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).
Grow Therapy will notify you 45 days before your authorization expires so you have time to act.
If your authorization expires before a renewal is approved, any upcoming appointments after the expiration date will be canceled.
Resuming care after an expired authorization is possible. Contact your provider to start the renewal process.
What is a VA authorization?
An authorization is an approval from your Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) that allows your Grow provider to deliver therapy services and allows you to schedule appointments. Authorizations are valid for a specific time period or number of sessions. When one expires, your provider must submit a renewal request to your VAMC before you can continue scheduling.
As long as an active authorization is on file, your care with your Grow provider will continue uninterrupted.
How to check if your authorization is active
Log in to your Client Portal.
Navigate to the My Coverage tab.
Look for Active Coverage next to your insurance type. This confirms your authorization is current.
What to expect as your authorization approaches expiration
Grow Therapy will send you a reminder 45 days before your authorization expires through the Client Portal. Once your authorization has officially expired, you'll also receive an email notification. If you miss the initial 45-day reminder, this is your backup signal to act.
If you receive either of these notices, reach out to your provider as soon as possible to begin the renewal process. Your provider will also be notified by Grow Therapy and should proactively check in with you about upcoming renewals.
How to renew your authorization
Contact your Grow provider and let them know your authorization is expiring or has expired.
Request that your provider submit a referral request to your VAMC.
Once the VAMC approves the renewal, your authorization will be updated, and you'll be able to resume scheduling.
⚠️ Important: If your authorization expires before a renewal is approved, any scheduled appointments after the expiration date will be canceled, and you won't be able to book new sessions until the renewal is in place.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my authorization expires before I renew it? Resuming care is still possible. Contact your provider to submit a renewal request to your VAMC. Once the new authorization is approved, your scheduling access will be restored.
Who is responsible for submitting the renewal request? Your provider submits the referral request to your VAMC. You don't need to contact the VA directly. Grow Therapy will also notify your provider about upcoming expirations, so they should reach out to you proactively.
Will I lose my existing appointments if my authorization expires? Yes, any appointments scheduled after your expiration date will be canceled if a renewal isn't in place in time. This is why it's important to act as soon as you receive an expiration reminder.
How do I know which insurance type my authorization is tied to? Your My Coverage tab in the Client Portal will display your insurance type alongside your coverage status.
What if I need help navigating the renewal process? Our support team is available at 1-332-345-9401 and is happy to help you understand your options and make sure your care continues without delay.