In January, the Department of Veterans Affairs expanded its eligibility of care for veterans experiencing an emergency suicidal crisis, at no cost to them.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Chief of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Services Dr. Rod Velezmoro said the Department of Veterans Affairs expanded its eligibility because there were gaps in care and there was a need for intervention to reduce veteran suicides.

“The Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020 affords care to veterans using a holistic approach to improve treatment and enhance veterans’ mental health and well-being,” he said. “The COMPACT Act reduces barriers by eliminating the cost of the care, to even include emergency transport.”

Although the law passed in 2020, the COMPACT Act commenced on Jan. 17, 2023.

“Veterans are covered by the COMPACT Act when they are experiencing an acute suicidal crisis, meaning that the individual has suicidal ideations, a plan, means, and intention to act, or someone who has already engaged in a suicide attempt,” Velezmoro said.

If veterans, or their loved ones, in the event of an emergent suicidal crisis, should call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room, notify staff that they are a veteran and then staff will take them back to provide treatment.

“Emergencies are never planned, so it’s important for all to know where the closest emergency room is located,” he said.

Approximately 9 million more veterans qualify for care under this act.

The care will provide coverage for up to 30 days of inpatient, or crisis residential care and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Velezmoro said in some cases, outpatient care may be modestly extended to finish courses of treatment.

“Most COMPACT Act cases will also be assigned a suicide prevention team member to aid with the coordination of care,” he said.

If a veteran does receive a bill for emergency suicide care related to care, they should contact their local VA patient advocate and ask for a clinical review with an appropriate provider, Velezmoro said. They can also contact the number on their bill to initiate the process.

“Veterans who received COMPACT-related care at a community emergency department should submit a signed, written request for reimbursement to their local VA medical facility community care office along with an after-visit summary/medical documentation and a billing statement from the rendering provider showing diagnosis code information and an itemized list of charges,” he said.

Regardless of VA enrollment status, there are many veterans who are eligible for their medical expenses to be covered by the VA. Those include:

• Those who are 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

“Veterans who were dishonorably discharged may still seek emergent suicidal care at a VA or non-VA emergency room, however VA will not cover the expenses,” Velezmoro said.

With suicide prevention being VHA’s top clinical priority for a number of years, he said, there had been a surmountable amount of effort already placed in this arena for eligible veterans.

Those veterans who are served by the Veterans Health Administration have access to evidenced-based treatment for numerous mental health diagnosis, which can often exacerbate and contribute suicidal thinking, or actions. Velezmoro said conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, TBI, are all treated through the care offered by the VHA.

There are options to utilize predictive modeling, which is a research tool used by VHA that analyzes medical record data to help confirm, or alert providers to those who are at higher statistical risk for adverse outcomes.

“Programs and/or dashboards like Reach Vet, Cristal, and Storm aid clinical staff with being keenly aware of risk factors that might impact a veteran,” he said. “Our clinical staff proactively use these tools to re-evaluate care, identify other treatment options that may be of benefit, speak with a veteran about those options, craft a collaborative treatment plan, create an enhanced safety plan, and even engage the suicide prevention team to help coordinate efforts and aid with recovery.”

For more information, visit Emergency Medical Care – Community Care (va.gov).