Services/Insurance + access/VA Community Care chiropractor

Last updated October 7, 2026

— SERVICE · VETERANS · VA COMMUNITY CARE NETWORK

VA community care.

Veterans: you can see a chiropractor close to home through the VA. Meridian is in-network with the VA Community Care Network in Southside Jacksonville and Orange Park. Ask your VA for a chiropractic referral, and ask for us by name.

Request an appointment How the VA referral works

01 — WHAT IT IS

You served. Now let us help you move again.

Years of rucks, body armor, jumps, long drives, and heavy lifting add up. Plenty of veterans live with back pain, neck pain, and stiff joints for years because getting care feels like one more line to stand in. It does not have to work that way.

Meridian Integrative Wellness is in-network with the VA Community Care Network. That means the VA can send you to us for chiropractic care, and the VA pays for the visits it authorizes. Both of our offices see VA referrals: Southside Jacksonville on Old Baymeadows Road, and Orange Park on Kingsley Avenue.

Under the MISSION Act of 2019 — the law that replaced the old VA Choice program — eligible veterans can get care from in-network community providers instead of waiting on a VA facility. If you still hear people call it "VA Choice," this is the same idea under a newer name.

The path is simple. Talk to your VA primary care team. Ask for a community care referral for chiropractic care. Ask for Meridian by name. Once the VA authorizes it, we take it from there.

Not sure your problem fits? Bring it in. Your plan is settled by an exam, not by a website.

02 — SYMPTOMS

What veterans see us for

Chronic low back pain

The low back takes the load of years of gear, lifting, and training. When it flares, sitting, sleeping, and driving all get harder.

Neck and upper back pain

Helmets, body armor, and long hours behind a wheel or a screen load the neck and shoulders until they stay tight.

Sciatica and leg pain

Pain that runs from the low back into the buttock or down the leg, often from an irritated disc or nerve.

Shoulder, knee, and hip pain

Joints that took a beating in service and never fully settled down.

Headaches

Tension and neck-related headaches that start at the base of the skull.

Stiffness and lost range of motion

Turning your head to back up the truck. Bending to tie your boots. Getting off the floor with the kids.

03 — HOW WE TREAT IT

How the VA referral works.

01 — Talk to your VA primary care team

Tell them what hurts and how it is limiting your day. Ask for a community care referral for chiropractic care. The VA decides eligibility and issues the referral and authorization.

02 — Ask for Meridian by name

You can ask the VA to send your referral to a specific in-network provider. Tell them you want Meridian Integrative Wellness in Jacksonville or Orange Park. VA schedulers may also book with us directly.

03 — We schedule your first visit

Once your authorization is in, we get you on the schedule. If you already have your referral, call us with the details and we confirm it with the VA.

A full exam on day one

Your plan is built after a hands-on exam. We go over your history and your service, test your movement, strength, and nerves, and decide if imaging is needed. You leave knowing what is wrong and what the plan is.

Chiropractic care

Gentle, specific adjustments get stiff joints moving and take pressure off irritated nerves, paired with the exercises you need to hold the gains. Drug-free and non-surgical.

Shockwave therapy

Acoustic pressure waves aimed at stubborn tendon and soft-tissue pain, like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and shoulder tendons. Coverage follows what your VA authorization includes.

— IS IT AN EMERGENCY?

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, a head injury, new weakness or numbness in your legs, or you lose control of your bladder or bowels. If you are in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1.

04 — GOOD TO KNOW

In-network with the VA Community Care Network

The VA Community Care Network is the group of private providers the VA uses to care for veterans outside VA facilities. Florida is in Region 3 of that network, which is administered by Optum.

Meridian is in-network. That matters because the VA can only send a community care referral to a provider in the network. When you ask for us, the VA can say yes.

Both offices take VA referrals. Southside Jacksonville is at 9770 Old Baymeadows Rd #139, Jacksonville. Orange Park is at 1532 Kingsley Ave #102, Orange Park. Pick the one closer to home or work.

Getting your referral, step by step

Start with your VA primary care team. Many Jacksonville-area veterans are seen at the Jacksonville 1 VA Clinic at 1536 N Jefferson St or the Jacksonville North VA Clinic at 145 Heron Bay Rd. Your primary care provider or your clinic's community care office is the right place to ask.

Be specific. Tell them where it hurts, how long it has been going on, and what it stops you from doing — sleeping through the night, lifting your kids, sitting through a drive, working a full shift. Then ask for a community care referral for chiropractic care.

Ask for Meridian by name, and say which office you want. If the VA approves the referral, it is entered into the VA's referral system and sent to us. Sometimes a VA scheduler calls us directly to book your first visit.

Already have a referral? Call either office. Give us your referral or authorization number and we confirm it with the VA before your first visit.

How many visits you get

Each VA authorization covers a set number of visits. It commonly falls around 8 to 12. Your authorization lists the exact number and how long it is good for.

That is a real block of care. It is enough to calm a flare down, get you moving, and start building the strength that keeps it from coming back.

If you need more, you are not stuck. We track your progress at every visit and can send the VA a request for additional care, along with the notes that show where you are and what you still need.

What it costs you

Authorized community care is billed to the VA, not to you. We do not bill you for visits the VA has authorized.

Depending on your VA status, the VA may charge a copay for community care. That is set by the VA, not by us. Your VA will tell you if any copay applies.

If your plan ever calls for something outside your authorization, we talk with you first. No surprise bills.

We keep the VA in the loop

Community care works best when your VA team can see what is happening. After your visits, we send your records back to the VA so your primary care team has the full picture.

That also keeps your care moving. When your progress is documented, it is easier for the VA to approve more visits if you need them.

What to have ready when you call

Your VA referral or authorization number. Your VA health ID card or a photo ID. A list of your medications. Any imaging reports you already have.

Missing something? Call anyway. We can help you figure out what you need.

Have your referral? Let's get you seen. Send us your details below and our team will call you back to set up your first visit.

05 — COMMON QUESTIONS

VA community care questions

Does the VA cover chiropractic care?

Yes. Chiropractic care is part of the VA health benefits package. Eligible veterans can get it from an in-network community provider through VA Community Care. Meridian is in-network with the VA Community Care Network, and we see VA referrals at our Southside Jacksonville and Orange Park offices.

How do I get a VA referral for chiropractic care?

Talk to your VA primary care team. Tell them where it hurts and how it is limiting you, and ask for a community care referral for chiropractic care. If the VA approves it, they issue a referral and authorization. Then call us with your referral details and we get you on the schedule.

Can I choose Meridian as my community care chiropractor?

You can ask for us by name. Tell your VA care team or community care office that you want your chiropractic care at Meridian Integrative Wellness in Jacksonville or Orange Park. We are in-network with the VA Community Care Network, so the VA can send your referral to us.

How many chiropractic visits does the VA authorize?

It depends on your referral. A VA authorization commonly covers about 8 to 12 visits. Your authorization lists the exact number. If you need more care, we can send the VA a request for additional visits, along with your progress notes.

Is shockwave therapy covered under VA Community Care?

We offer shockwave therapy at both offices. Coverage follows what the VA authorizes. If your plan calls for shockwave and it is not part of your current authorization, we talk with you and the VA before any treatment is done, so there are no surprises.

Do I pay anything for VA community care?

Authorized care is billed to the VA, not to you. Depending on your VA status, the VA may charge a copay for community care. Your VA will tell you if any copay applies.

I live in Orange Park or Clay County. Can I be seen closer to home?

Yes. Our Orange Park office on Kingsley Avenue sees VA referrals, just like our Southside Jacksonville office. Tell your VA which office you want, or tell us when you call and we will book you there.

What should I bring to my first visit?

Your VA referral or authorization number, your VA health ID card or a photo ID, a list of your medications, and any imaging reports you already have, such as X-ray or MRI results.

I was told to find a community care provider online myself. What do I do?

Some veterans are told to look up a community care provider on their own. You can still choose Meridian. Call either office and tell us you have a VA referral for chiropractic care. We will confirm the authorization with the VA and get you scheduled. If you do not have a referral yet, start with your VA primary care team.

— RELATED

Keep reading.

— IF YOU'RE READY

You carried enough. Let's get you moving again.

In-network with the VA Community Care Network. Southside Jacksonville and Orange Park.

Request an appointment

— Talk to our team

Have a VA referral? Let's get you on the schedule.

Tell us what’s going on. Someone from our team will call you, confirm your VA referral, and find a time that works. VA community care visits are authorized by the VA first. Ask your VA primary care team for a community care referral for chiropractic care at Meridian, then call us with the referral details.

✓ Two offices: Southside Jacksonville and Orange Park
✓ In-network with the VA Community Care Network
✓ A real person calls you back, not a bot

Prefer to talk now? Call (904) 379-9412