Eligible Veterans and certain former Service Members experiencing an acute suicidal crisis can receive emergency care at no cost through the VA. Treatment may be provided at a VA facility or a community emergency department, even when the person is not enrolled in VA health care and does not have a VA disability rating.
The program was created through the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment Act, commonly called the COMPACT Act. The law authorizes VA to deliver or cover qualifying suicide crisis care at VA and non-VA medical facilities.
What the Benefit May Cover
Covered services may include an emergency assessment, immediate treatment, and transportation to a medical facility. Eligible patients may also receive inpatient or crisis residential care for as long as 30 days, followed by up to 90 days of outpatient treatment.
VA may approve additional time when continued treatment is needed because of the acute suicidal crisis.
Previous enrollment in VA health care is not required. An eligible person also does not need a service-connected disability rating or a record of receiving care from a VA medical center.
Seek Help at the Closest Emergency Department
During an emergency, getting to a hospital should come before determining whether the facility has an existing relationship with VA. Qualifying care may be covered at a community emergency department even when that hospital does not have a prior agreement with the department.
The Veteran or the person helping them should tell hospital staff about the Veteran’s military service. The medical provider should notify VA within 72 hours through the Emergency Care Reporting portal or by calling 844-724-7842.
If the hospital does not submit the report, the Veteran or someone acting on their behalf may contact VA. Reporting the visit allows the department to examine eligibility, coordinate care and determine whether the services qualify for payment.
A trained health care professional or crisis responder must determine that the person is at immediate risk of harming themselves. Eligibility also depends on military service, length of service and discharge circumstances. Veterans who have experienced sexual assault, battery, or sexual harassment while serving may qualify under separate provisions (editor’s note: all of which would qualify as military sexual trauma––MST––which the VA recognizes as an epidemic).
Veterans should not put off emergency treatment while attempting to interpret the eligibility rules.
Anyone who receives a bill for crisis care that they believe VA should have covered can contact the VA community care customer service center at 877-881-7618.
Helping Veterans Learn About the Benefit
Uncertainty about eligibility or the cost of an emergency room visit may cause someone to hesitate during a crisis. Making Veterans and their families aware of this benefit before an emergency occurs may help them seek care sooner.
American Legion Family members can share this information through the Legion’s Be the One suicide prevention initiative and by checking on Veterans through Buddy Checks at their posts and throughout their communities.
Veterans, Service Members, relatives and friends seeking immediate support can call 988 and press 1, text 838255 or use the Veterans Crisis Line online chat. Help is available 24/7 at no cost, and conversations are confidential. Call 911 when someone is in immediate danger.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
