VA to pay for all emergency mental health care starting next week

Beginning Jan. 17, all veterans will have the ability to entry emergency psychological well being care freed from cost at any Veterans Affairs medical facility or outdoors clinic, no matter whether or not they’re already enrolled in division well being care providers.

Division officers introduced the brand new coverage on Friday as a part of nationwide efforts to forestall suicide amongst veterans. Based on the newest division information, about 17 veterans a day die by suicide.

“Veterans in suicidal disaster can now obtain the free, world-class emergency well being care they deserve, irrespective of the place they want it, after they want it, or whether or not they’re enrolled in VA care,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough mentioned in a press release. “This enlargement of care will save veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing extra necessary than that.”

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The brand new coverage applies to all veterans with any separation standing besides a dishonorable discharge, no matter whether or not they qualify for different VA medical providers.

About 18 million veterans live in America at the moment, however solely about half are at present enrolled in veterans well being care by way of the division.

Since 2019, all VA medical amenities have been required to offer same-day entry to emergency psychological well being care to veterans.

Beneath the brand new coverage, VA will both waive prices for care or — in instances of visits outdoors the VA system — present reimbursements for emergency psychological well being care. These prices can embrace appointment charges, transportation prices and different associated follow-up bills.

The brand new plan additionally requires VA to cowl the prices of as much as 30 days of inpatient or residential look after therapy of these psychological well being points and as much as 90 days of outpatient care if veterans are experiencing an acute suicidal disaster.

The transfer relies on laws adopted by Congress almost two years in the past. Home Veterans’ Affairs Committee rating member Mark Takano, R-Calif., who authored the measure, praised the division on Friday for its implementation.

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“This new profit removes value from the equation when veterans are at imminent danger of self-harm and permits them to entry lifesaving care after they want it most, no matter whether or not the veteran has ever enrolled in or used VA healthcare advantages,” he mentioned in a press release.

“However there may be extra work to do. As we embark on a brand new yr and a brand new Congress, I’ll proceed to prioritize significant options to assist save veterans’ lives.”

Suicide prevention has been a prime medical focus for Congress and the division for greater than a decade, however progress on lowering the variety of navy and veterans suicides has been restricted.

Veterans experiencing a psychological well being emergency can contact the Veteran Disaster Line by way of 988 or at 1-800-273-8255. Callers ought to choose choice 1 for a VA staffer. Veterans, troops or their relations also can textual content 838255 or go to VeteransCrisisLine.internet for help.