Overview

• Nearly 50,000 veterans accessed free suicide prevention care in the first year of a new policy implemented by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• The policy allows veterans to receive emergency care at any VA or non-VA health facility, covering emergency room care, crisis residential care for up to 30 days, and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
• Transportation costs are also covered under the policy, which extends to any veteran, even those not enrolled in the VA.
• According to the VA, 6,392 veterans died by suicide in 2021, an increase of 114 from the previous year.
• The policy has reportedly saved more than $64 million in healthcare costs.