The Hill (1/17, Sforza ) reports that on Wednesday, the Department of Veterans Affairs “announced…that 49,714 veterans and former service members took advantage of a new benefit that allowed them to go to any VA or non-VA health facility to get free emergency care if they were experiencing an acute suicidal crisis.”
The VA “said the benefit not only offered potentially life-saving health care, it saved more than $64 million in health care costs.” Additionally, “the department said the new policy allowed those experiencing a suicidal crisis to get necessary care, including emergency room visits, up to 30 days of inpatient or crisis residential care, up to 90 days of outpatient care and transportation costs.”
Related Links:
— “VA says nearly 50K veterans used emergency suicide prevention program in its first year,” Lauren Sforza, The Hill, January 17, 2024