For VA Navigators & Veteran Service Organizations

Helping veterans access MeRT through
VA Community Care Network.

Brain Treatment Center Michigan is an in-network VA CCN provider offering MeRT® neurostimulation for eligible veterans. This page gives you everything you need to help a veteran navigate the referral process — including exact script language that keeps the referral on track.

Navigator direct line

(269) 430-7966 Ask for our care team
info@braintreatmentusa.com
5-step CCN referral guide

How to help a veteran get a referral to Brain Treatment Center Michigan

The VA Community Care system requires precise language and veteran self-advocacy to ensure a referral reaches the right clinic. The most common failure point: the referral is written too broadly and the veteran gets routed to a generic TMS clinic. These five steps prevent that.

1

Veteran schedules an appointment with their VA provider

The veteran needs to make an appointment with their VA Primary Care Provider or VA Mental Health Provider. This is the starting point for any CCN referral. Help the veteran identify and contact the right provider if needed.

2

Veteran uses this exact script at the appointment

The referral must name the clinic and location precisely. Without this, the veteran may be routed to a generic TMS provider. Print or share these scripts with the veteran before their appointment.

Metro Detroit / Sterling Heights
"I am requesting a Community Care referral to Brain Treatment Center, Sterling Heights, Michigan, for neurostimulation treatment for Major Depressive Disorder."
Address if asked: 5555 Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights, MI 48310 · Phone: (586) 330-0004
Grand Rapids
"I am requesting a Community Care referral to Brain Treatment Center, Byron Center, Michigan, for neurostimulation treatment for Major Depressive Disorder."
Address if asked: 8535 Byron Commerce Dr SW, Byron Center, MI 49315 · Phone: (616) 407-4789
3

Veteran confirms the referral is entered correctly

Before leaving the appointment, the veteran should ask the provider to confirm that "Brain Treatment Center" and the specific city are entered in the system. Vague entries like "TMS clinic" or "neurostimulation provider" may result in routing to the wrong clinic.

4

VA Community Care contacts the veteran

Once the consult is approved, the VA's Community Care office will contact the veteran to schedule. The veteran should confirm again at this point that the appointment is specifically with Brain Treatment Center in Sterling Heights or Byron Center — not a generic TMS clinic.

5

If the referral stalls — contact us directly

Our team can contact the VA directly to help ensure a referral is properly routed. If a veteran's referral is stuck or has been mis-routed, call care team at (269) 430-7966. We can often help move things forward from our end.

Metro Detroit / Sterling Heights

5555 Metropolitan Parkway
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
(586) 330-0004

Grand Rapids

8535 Byron Commerce Dr SW
Byron Center, MI 49315
(616) 407-4789
Navigator talking points

What to tell veterans about MeRT

It's non-invasive and drug-free

MeRT uses gentle magnetic pulses — no surgery, no needles, no medication. Nothing enters the body. It's an in-office procedure, approximately 30–45 minutes per session, five days a week.

It starts with a map of their brain

Before any treatment, a quantitative EEG is recorded — a detailed picture of the veteran's brainwave patterns. The treatment is built around those specific findings, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

It's a veteran-led clinic

Brain Treatment Center Michigan's CEO Nathaniel Dickman is a retired USAF Lt. Colonel. The clinic understands military culture, the barriers veterans face in seeking care, and what it means to have served.

If they have PTSD, they may also qualify with MDD

VA CCN coverage for neurostimulation is authorized for MDD. Many veterans with PTSD also meet criteria for co-occurring MDD — which may open the coverage pathway. Our physician team evaluates both at intake.

It's a six-week commitment — not indefinite

A complete MeRT course is approximately six weeks. Veterans know what they're committing to before they start — there's no open-ended treatment timeline.

Navigating the PTSD / MDD coverage distinction

VA CCN neurostimulation coverage is typically authorized for Major Depressive Disorder. Many veterans present primarily with PTSD — but PTSD and MDD frequently co-occur. Our psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer A. Wood, MD conducts a full evaluation at intake that assesses both. If MDD is clinically present, it will be documented — which may open the VA CCN coverage pathway for a veteran who came in primarily with a PTSD diagnosis. When speaking with veterans about this, you can say: "The clinic will do a full evaluation and figure out the most accurate diagnosis and the best path to coverage."

About the clinic

Veteran-led. Physician-led. Proven process.

Brain Treatment Center Michigan has supported the Walking With Warriors program and continues to develop its CCN referral pipeline specifically for the veteran community. Our team understands the specific language, processes, and advocacy required to successfully navigate VA Community Care referrals.

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO

Chief Medical Officer · Functional Medicine Physician

Oversees all clinical protocols. Functional medicine approach addresses root-cause neurological and systemic factors alongside MeRT treatment.

View full profile →
JW

Dr. Jennifer A. Wood, MD

Psychiatrist · Adult & Pediatric · 20+ Years Experience

Conducts full intake evaluation with our psychiatrists at intake including assessment for co-occurring MDD in veterans presenting with PTSD. Generates documentation for CCN prior authorization.

View full profile →
Get in touch

Connect with our veteran navigator team

Whether you have a veteran ready to refer, a question about the CCN process, or want to discuss a partnership or information session for your organization — we're here to help.

Please do not include detailed medical information in this form. A coordinator will contact you to discuss your situation through appropriate channels.

If we miss your call, we will try you twice more before the end of the next business day. We typically respond within one business day.

Have a veteran to refer? Call care team.

(269) 430-7966