top of page
Background 1.png

Emergency Mental Health Care Available To Veterans Begins Now

Provided By Department of Veterans Affairs Regardless Of VA Enrollment


[DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS] Starting today Jan. 17, veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit. This expansion of care will help prevent veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world-class care to veterans in times of crisis. It will also increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA.

Preventing veteran suicide is VA’s top clinical priority and a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration. This effort is a key part of VA’s 10-year National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and the Biden-Harris administration’s plan for Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide. In September, VA released the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which showed that veteran suicides decreased in 2020 for the second year in a row, and that fewer veterans died by suicide in 2020 than in any year since 2006. “Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency health care they deserve – no matter where they need it, when they need it, or whether they’re enrolled in VA care,” said VA Secretary for Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. “This expansion of care will save veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing more important than that.”


VA has submitted an interim final rule to the federal register to establish this authority under section 201 of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020. The final policy, which takes effect on Jan. 17, will allow VA to:

  • Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.

  • Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.

  • Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.

  • Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the period of emergency suicide care.

Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:

  • Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.

  • Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

  • Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.

Over the past year, VA has announced or continued several additional efforts to end veteran suicide, including establishing 988 (then press 1) as a way for Veterans to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7; proposing a new rule that would reduce or eliminate copayments for Veterans at risk of suicide; conducting an ongoing public outreach effort on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means safety; and leveraging a national Veteran suicide prevention awareness campaign, “Don’t Wait. Reach Out.

If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.

Comentários


Address

555 Marshall Drive
St. Robert, MO 65584

Phone

Toll Free 1-888-482-2524
Local 573-412-5100

Connect

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

United Veteran Benefits Agency is an organization serving the Veteran population.  United Veteran Benefits Agency is not an accredited agency, VSO, attorney, medical facility or organization identified by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and is not affiliated with the VA in any way.  United Veteran Benefits Agency will not at any point provide medical or legal advice. Utilization of the consulting services provided by United Veteran Benefits Agency is not required to submit a claim for VA disability compensation.  Information pertaining to claim status, number of veterans served, rating increases and any other percentages noted are averages based on all claims submitted, and not specific to any one claim. Individual results vary based on a number of factors.  As a result, United Veteran Benefits Agency cannot guarantee your rating outcome. The United Veteran Benefits Agency name and logo are registered trademarks of United Veteran Benefits Agency.

© 2024 by United Veteran Benefits Agency

bottom of page