Starting Tuesday, suicidal veterans are eligible for free emergency medical care at VA facilities or private facilities.
Unlike most other medical benefits, veterans do not have to be enrolled in the Veterans Program to be eligible. More than 18 million veterans of the United States could be covered.
The VA will announce a new policy on Friday that includes up to 30 days of inpatient or emergency inpatient care and up to 90 days of follow-up outpatient care.
The Department of Veterans Affairs already provides emergency suicide care, but the new benefits will eliminate the need for veterans to pay copays or fees for that care. If a veteran receives care at a private facility rather than her VA facility, the government will cover the costs. The veteran will also cover the cost of ambulance transport to the hospital by the veteran.
“To ensure that suicidal veterans can get the world-class emergency medical care they need, free of charge, wherever they need it, when they need it, or whether they are enrolled in VA Care. A statement: “This expansion of care will save the lives of veterans. Nothing could be more important.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs has approximately 9 million veterans enrolled in health care, and an estimated 9 million more are unenrolled and may be eligible for treatment. Under the new policy, they are entitled to the same care for free.
The VA reported that 6,146 veterans died by suicide in 2020. This is his average of 16.8 per day. While that number is 343 fewer than he did in 2019, suicide and veterans at risk remain the VA’s top clinical priority.
About 5,000 veterans are admitted to acute psychiatric wards each month, veterans Cliff Smith said, and are generally in immediate danger.
One of the challenges veterans face in getting care is that they worry they can’t afford it, and he hopes the new policy will ease barriers to care. .
“There are a lot of situations where we know veterans are in crisis somewhere, but they’re not in the hospital,” Smith said. There have been many situations where such concerns have prevented us from connecting that need to the facility.
“We’re addressing concerns related to bills and expenses. It’s out of the question,” Smith said, adding that he hopes the new policy “will change the lives of many veterans.” said.
The new policy was required by a law called the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Care, and Access to Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020, passed in 2020 and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump.
