Being active duty can have extremely harmful effects on a service member’s mental health, which is why veteran suicide risk is of the utmost concern. The suicide rate for veterans is 1.5 times higher than for people who haven’t served. To reduce that rate, veterans have to know that there is a place that can help them if they’re in crisis.
When a veteran is in a suicidal crisis, it’s essential that they receive urgent medical care. And in the past, veterans were limited in the medical providers they could turn to if they were having suicidal thoughts. But the COMPACT Act has fixed that.
How does the COMPACT Act help reduce veteran suicide?
The Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020, or COMPACT Act, includes a policy that increases veterans’ accessibility to suicidal crisis care.
Starting January 17, 2023, veterans can receive free emergency healthcare for a suicidal crisis, regardless of VA enrollment status or if the provider is a VA facility or not. Any former member of the armed forces who was discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable is eligible for this benefit. This increased access to emergency mental health care will make a huge difference for veterans who don’t have access to the 1,298 VA healthcare facilities across the United States.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will pay for or reimburse all costs surrounding emergency care for a veteran in a suicidal crisis, including transportation costs and follow-up care.
It covers inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days as well as outpatient care for up to 90 days. Social work is also included.
Valor Healthcare wants to reduce the risk of veteran suicide
Valor Healthcare is a veteran-founded healthcare organization. We aim to provide whole healthcare services to veterans and other patriots. We are the largest contracted provider of outpatient healthcare services for veterans and take pride in delivering world-class services. We were one of the first community-based outpatient clinics to be accredited for ambulatory care by the Joint Commission and continue to focus on quality across all our lines of business.
Valor Healthcare is a team made up of veterans and leading clinicians. We are passionate about making resources available to those who have served our country. Valor was first established in 2004, when an Army veteran and a Navy veteran joined together to create something they both believed in — good-quality outpatient care for veterans.
Interested in the types of services a veteran-focused health consultant company can provide? We specialize in each of the following:
- Outpatient clinic operations.
- Occupational health.
- Behavioral health.
- Population health.
- Value-added services.
Would you benefit from any of the services listed above? Are you a veteran who is dealing with mental health issues? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for guidance. If you are in crisis, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line, which can be reached by dialing 988 and pressing 1 or texting 838255.
Valor Healthcare partners with public and private medical clinics to bring high-quality healthcare to American veterans. If you are a healthcare professional, you can partner with us to give your patients access to data-driven, 21st-century care.
