Can A Free Suicidal Emergency Care Help Veterans In Crisis?

16 Jan Can A Free Suicidal Emergency Care Help Veterans In Crisis?

Veterans with an immediate suicidal crisis, regardless of whether they are enrolled with the VA, are now qualified for free care, including inpatient treatment, at any Department of Veterans Affairs facility or non-VA hospital. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced this Friday that veterans experiencing a severe, immediate mental health emergency will now be eligible for care that can last up to 90 days of outpatient therapy or 30 days of inpatient or residential care.

Nearly 9 million former U.S. service members who don’t already receive VA health care and services are affected by the shift, which the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention mandates, Access to Care and Treatment, or COMPACT, Act of 2020, according to the administration.

Eligible veterans include those in crisis who earned a discharge of “other than honorable” or “higher,” or who experienced sexual assault or harassment while serving, and who satisfy one of four requirements after having served: 

• Over 100 days under a combat exclusion,
• Over 24 months of active duty,
• More than 100 days are needed to support a contingency operation, OR
• More than 100 days of operating a drone.

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