Discseel® for Veterans: VA Community Care Coverage
If you're a veteran living with chronic back or neck pain, you may be able to receive care from a community provider — including specialized spine treatment — through the VA Community Care program. Here's a plain-language overview of how that generally works and how it relates to the Discseel® Procedure.
What VA Community Care is
VA Community Care allows eligible veterans to receive care from providers outside a VA facility, in their own community, when certain conditions are met — for example, when the needed care isn't readily available at a local VA facility or when travel or wait-time standards apply. Eligibility and authorization are determined by the VA, not by a community provider.
For veterans in Florida, the VA's Community Care Network is administered by Optum in this region. A veteran typically begins the process through their VA care team, which determines eligibility and issues an authorization for community care when appropriate.
Where the Discseel® Procedure fits
The Discseel® Procedure is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment for chronic back and neck pain caused by disc tears. For veterans who are exploring alternatives to major spine surgery, it may be one of the options worth discussing as part of a community-care referral for spine and interventional care.
Because coverage and authorization are determined by the VA on an individual basis, the practical first step is a conversation — with your VA care team about eligibility, and with a licensed provider about whether the procedure fits your condition.
How Emerald Coast Integrated Care works with veterans
Emerald Coast Integrated Care is contracted with VA Community Care, and the Discseel® Procedure is performed by Dr. Gerald Mastaw — a retired Navy Lt. Commander and military physician who is a lead trainer for the Discseel® Procedure, training other physicians in the technique. As a veteran caring for veterans, Dr. Mastaw understands the military community from the inside. We serve veterans across the Emerald Coast — including the Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and Crestview communities — and, through our Land O' Lakes location, veterans across the Tampa Bay area.
Our team is familiar with the community-care referral process and can help you understand the steps involved, coordinate with your referral, and evaluate whether the Discseel® Procedure or other spine and interventional care is right for you.
To learn more, call (800) 931-6086 or explore the Discseel® Procedure.
Where to Find the Discseel® Procedure
The Discseel® Procedure is available at both of our Florida locations, performed by Dr. Gerald Mastaw:
The Coast — Destin (Emerald Coast Integrated Care) 3999 Commons Dr W, Ste B, Destin, FL 32541 Serving Destin, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Crestview, Pensacola, and the greater Emerald Coast — including the Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field military communities.
The Heartland — Land O' Lakes (Veterans Spine and Discseel® Center of America) 16703 Early Riser Ave, Land O' Lakes, FL 34638 Serving Land O' Lakes, Pasco County, and the greater Tampa Bay area. View location details
Both locations: (800) 931-6086 · Mon – Fri, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm · Request an Appointment
About the Provider
Dr. Gerald Mastaw is a retired Navy Lt. Commander and military physician who serves as a lead trainer for the Discseel® Procedure, training other physicians across the country in the technique. As a veteran himself, he brings a particular focus to caring for the veteran and military community across the Emerald Coast and Tampa Bay. He performs the Discseel® Procedure at Emerald Coast Integrated Care.
This article is educational and is not medical advice, and it is not an official statement of VA policy or a guarantee of coverage. Eligibility for VA Community Care and authorization for any specific treatment are determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on an individual basis.