DAYTON, Ohio — New rules that extend mental health benefits for suicidal veterans are getting lots of support from within the Dayton VA Medical Center.
What You Need To Know
- Suicidal veterans may now seek treatment outside the VA that will be paid for by the government
- Counselors support the new rules and believe they will save lives
- Veterans who seek care outside the VA need to call 844-724-7842
“By expanding the act, we’re going to capture 9 million more veterans for care across the country,” said Jay Wainscott, program manager for suicide prevention at the Dayton VA.
“We know nationally that it is a higher rate of suicide for the veteran population than the civilian population,” Wainscott said.
He said each month, his office receives around 80 referrals for veterans identified as a risk for suicide.
Now, veterans have expanded access to treatment options at any hospital – not just VA medical centers – and for vets in rural and isolated parts of Ohio, that can make it a lot easier to seek out care.
“Basically, the Compact Act, the VA, is picking up the bill. So if you have to go to a rural area or hospital nearest to you, don’t worry,” said Michael England, a veteran and the community employment coordinator at the VA in Dayton. He said there was a time more than a decade ago after he finished his service that he could have died from his own demons.
“It got to a point where I tried to take my life,” England said. “In other words, I seen no way out. The thought process of me at the time was, ‘The world would be better without me in it.’”
England ended up getting treatment at the Dayton VA. Now, he helps other vets find jobs and get their lives back on track.
“And to see them a year later, they’ll tell me, ‘Mike, I got my first car, I can drive to work now, I’m doing so much better.’ That’s the reward for me,” England said. “Where I’m at today, I’m just thankful. I consider myself one of the lucky ones. It could’ve gone the other way at any point in life.”
Wainscott says that if veterans seek treatment at a hospital that isn’t part of the VA, they are required to call within three days of admission to get an authorization that will pay for the services. The number is (844) 724-7842.
“To me, it’s very tragic that we lose even one vet to suicide or one person to suicide because the resources are out there,” Wainscott said.
“So for us to be able to provide those services to them, get them through a difficult time, that’s critical. And that’s where that act is so important because we’re going to expand that care,” he said.
The new rules 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, according to the VA’s Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Veterans in crisis are also encouraged to call the Veterans Crisis Line, at 9-8-8. Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
