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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. News Release, Office of Public Affairs Media Relations
EMBARGOED UNTIL RELEASED BY VA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 13, 2023
Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for free emergency health care
WASHINGTON – Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to
any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including
inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90
days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.
This expansion of care will help prevent Veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, worldclass care to Veterans in times of crisis. It will also increase access to acute suicide
care for up to 9 million Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA.
Preventing Veteran suicide is VA’s top clinical priority and a top priority of the BidenHarris Administration. This effort is a key part of VA’s 10-year National Strategy for
Preventing Veteran Suicide and the Biden-Harris administration’s plan for Reducing
Military and Veteran Suicide. In September, VA released the 2022 National Veteran
Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which showed that Veteran suicides decreased in
2020 for the second year in a row, and that fewer Veterans died by suicide in 2020 than
in any year since 2006.
“Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency
health care they deserve – no matter where they need it, when they need it, or
whether they’re enrolled in VA care,” said VA Secretary for Veterans Affairs
Denis McDonough. “This expansion of care will save Veterans’ lives, and
there’s nothing more important than that.”
VA has submitted an interim final rule to the federal register to establish this authority
under section 201 of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and
Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020. The final policy, which takes effect on Jan. 17, will
allow VA to:
• Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency
suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility
for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
• Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide
care.
• Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
• Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the
period of emergency suicide care.
Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
• Veterans who were 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.
Over the past year, VA has announced or continued several additional efforts to end
Veteran suicide, including establishing 988 (then press 1) as a way for Veterans to
quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7; proposing a new rule that
would reduce or eliminate copayments for Veterans at risk of suicide; conducting an
ongoing public outreach effort on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means
safety; and leveraging a national Veteran suicide prevention awareness campaign,
“Don’t Wait. Reach Out.”
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Reporters covering this issue can download VA’s Safe Messaging Best Practices fact sheet or visit
ReportingOnSuicide.org for important guidance on how to communicate about suicide.
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7
confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
