You've heard of the PACT ACT. What about the COMPACT ACT?
22 a day. That's the suicide rate for veterans that has been published since 2001. Except it's wrong. In 2022 the rate was 34. And the figures for 2023 are shaping up to be much higher. Into the 40s a day.
Congress took action in 2022. Beginning in January of 2023 the Compact Act went into law. It provides for FREE mental health treatment for Veterans in crisis.
The COMPACT Act guarantees Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for free emergency health care.
Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any emergency room to get medical care.
Below we break down what this means for you and your loved ones should you need emergent suicidal care.
What it is
Any Veteran – whether enrolled in VA or not – can go to a VA or non-VA emergency room for emergent suicidal care.
We strongly recommend Veterans in suicidal crisis call 911 or visit their nearest emergency room for expedited care.
VA will provide the treatment or cover the costs for treatment including transportation, inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days, and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Who is eligible
Regardless of VA enrollment status, the following are eligible to have their medical expenses covered by VA:
Those 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.
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.
How it works
Veterans or their loved ones should do the following in the event of an emergent suicidal crisis:
Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
Notify staff that you’re a Veteran
Staff will take you back and provide treatment
Emergencies are never planned so it’s important you and your loved ones know where the closest emergency room is located.
Billing
If a Veteran receives a bill for emergency suicide care related care at a VA medical facility, they should contact their local VA patient advocate and ask for a clinical review with an appropriate provider. Veterans can also contact the number on their bill to initiate this 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.
https://www.va.gov/maryland-health-care/programs/compact-act/#:~:text=Compact%20Act.%20The%20COMPACT%20Act%20guarantees%20Veterans,health%20care%20facility%20for%20free%20emergency%20health
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My SIL, who is an ex-costie, was very involved COMPACT Act and the VA hospital due to how many vets are now suffering with mental illness. It's so important to get the word out about this. Thank you so much for posting this article.
I actually brought this up at the Missouri VFW Department Convention in Jun 2023. No one had heard about it.
The Missouri VFW is leading an effort to educate First Responders about this law. Most of them we have talked with say when they offer someone an opportunity to get help, the refuse primarily because the don't want an Ambulance or medical bill. That's the biggest obstacle to a vet seeking help.
With this law, the VA foots the entire bill. Up to 90 days of outpatient treatment, or 30 days inpatient. What's not said in the article is they will also cover medication for up to 90 days.
Is Uncle Bruce back?
Sure as hell hope so
According to Dr. Sharmane Delgado Payne – The Clinic Director at the Steven A Cohen Military Family Clinic there has been an uptick or spick in anxiety, depression and suicide. In fact, she says that 22 Veterans commit suicide each day.
A number that’s up from 17 a day in 2019 . In addition, according to the latest data, the suicide rate for veterans is more than 50% higher than non-veterans and young troops are taking their own lives at double the rate of their civilian peers.
I have been linked into the VA system for a couple years and can state emphatically that in NM and TX (2 of 5 states with the highest rates of Veteran suicides)
Any time you call the VA, your "greeting" from them (in our area) starts with "If this is an emergency, please call 911" and then, a much longer greeting dealing with suicide questions (5 if I remember correctly) with the statement that if you answer "yes" to any of the questions, please contact the suicide prevention department at XXX-XXXX.
Monthly, we have an open call-in/discussion session available to all vets and their dependents, and for the past six months, the first topic is the "new" COMPACT Act and opens the floor for discussion/passing on new information.
Since we are two of the top five, TX/NM is taking this very seriously.