What is a Request for Services (RFS)?
A Request for Services (RFS) is the form (VA Form 10-10172) that the VA requires to authorize continued or expanded mental health care for a veteran in community care. It is submitted by Grow Therapy on your behalf, but requires your clinical input and signature before we can send it.
When would I need an RFS?
You may need an RFS in two situations: an authorized renewal or additional or higher-level services. Both are outlined below.
Authorization renewal
When a veteran's authorization is approaching its expiration date, and continued care is needed.
How to submit an RFS form to request to renew a veteran’s authorization:
You receive a task in your Grow portal — 60 days before a veteran's authorization expires, you'll see a ‘Follow up with client’ task in your portal. When you click on the task, you will be directed to the ‘Clients’ page. There, you will see an ‘Authorization Expiring’ status for any relevant clients. Select ‘Manage Authorizations.’ Please respond to the in-portal task and return your signed form at least 30 days in advance of the expiration date to allow the VA ample time to review, approve, and issue a new authorization and to avoid any disruption to your client's care.
Confirm continued care is needed — Click ‘Manage Authorization’. You will be asked to indicate whether the veteran requires continued care and provide a brief clinical explanation.
Sign the pre-filled RFS form — If you indicated that the veteran requires continued care, Grow will email you a pre-filled VA Form 10-10172 (Request for Services). Sign and return it via email to insurance@growtherapy.com as soon as possible to ensure the VA has ample time to review, approve, and issue a new authorization before the current authorization expires.
Grow handles submission — Once we receive your signed form, we submit it to the veteran's VA Medical Center (VAMC) and coordinate the renewal from there.
Grow will also notify the veteran 45 days prior to their authorization expiration date, and on the date of expiration.
⚠️ Important timing note:
The VA requires a minimum of 30 days to review, approve, and issue a renewed authorization. Please respond to the in-portal task and return your signed form well in advance of the expiration date to avoid any disruption to your client's care.
Additional or higher-level services
When a veteran needs a higher level of care that is not included in their current VA authorization. For example, if you’d like to refer your psychotherapy patient for medication management, or if you’d like to refer your individual therapy client to couples therapy. These are additional services that fall outside of the scope of their existing authorization and would require a request for services, VA review and approval, and issuance of an additional authorization for these services.
Grow's Care Coordination team can help support providers through this process, including identifying referral pathways, coordinating required documentation, and submitting requests to the VA when appropriate. You can learn more about Care Coordination, the types of support available, and see visuals on the request process here.
How to request higher levels of care or additional services for veterans:
1. Submit a Care Coordination request
In your Provider Portal, submit a Higher Level of Care (HLOC) or specialty mental health referral request.
To submit a request through the client's chart:
Select Clients from the left navigation menu. Select or search for the client's name to open their chart.
Click Create referral in the upper-right corner.
Complete and submit the referral form.
2. Care Coordination reviews the request
The Care Coordination team will review the referral and determine the appropriate next steps based on the requested service, the client's coverage, and VA requirements.
3. Complete any requested documentation
Depending on the service being requested, the Care Coordination team may request additional clinical information, supporting documentation, signatures, or completion of portions of a Request for Services (RFS) form.
4. Grow coordinates submission
Once all required information has been received, the Care Coordination team will submit the RFS to the veteran's VA Medical Center (VAMC) and will remain available for any questions throughout the process.
⚠️ Important note
VA approval is required before many specialty services or higher levels of care can be accessed. Processing timelines vary by VA Medical Center and service type. Most VAMCs request a minimum of 30 days to review the RFS and issue a corresponding authorization, if approved. Prompt completion of requested documentation can help avoid delays and support timely access to care for veterans.
You can access the VA Form 10-10172 (RFS) here: VA Form 10-10172