For a veteran having thoughts of suicide, it’s critical to eliminate barriers that could prevent them from getting the help they need. The last thing they should have to worry about is the cost of medical care.
That was the rationale for the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act, which allows veterans experiencing a suicidal crisis to receive emergency mental health care at any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or non-VA health care facility – at no cost to the veteran. This entails up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care, including mental health and medical services, ambulance rides and medications. By ensuring timely access and removing obstacles to care, the COMPACT Act supports VA’s top clinical priority of suicide prevention.
Since January 2023, Tria Federal’s Legislative Support team has played a key role in helping the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Revenue Operations (RO) program office comply with the intent of the COMPACT Act.
“Our aim is to ensure that these sections of legislation, which are intended to ease the financial burden for veterans in crisis, can be properly operationalized by RO so that their staff can efficiently cancel veterans’ copays,” said Madeline Cohen, a Tria consultant.
Tria’s work has focused on developing creative interim solutions ahead of needed IT system updates. Tria’s team prepared educational materials that communicated workflow adjustments and supported training sessions for RO staff across the nation. These training sessions introduced new interim processes for cancelling veteran copayments and managing copayment disputes.
Tria also prepared progress reports and legislative summaries and advocated for RO by coordinating with the various stakeholders to “make sure our client is at the forefront of decision-making processes,” said Maryam Sinanovic, a Tria consultant.
Eventually, VHA’s RO office will automate the process of canceling copays for veterans in crisis.
“I think we can all agree that veterans should receive the care that they need,” Sinanovic said. “But implementing legislation can be complex and requires navigating through in-depth processes related to system and operational enhancements.”
“We work with our clients to get them to a good place with an interim solution until the long-term solution can be achieved,” Sinanovic added.
Tria works on other VHA programs aimed at preventing veteran suicide and supporting mental health, including:
- The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants Program, which provides outreach and suicide prevention services to veterans and their families.
- Implementation of the Cleland-Dole Act, which cancels three copays per calendar year for veterans receiving outpatient mental health and substance use disorder care.
If you’re a veteran in a mental health crisis and you are thinking about suicide—or you know a veteran who is—get help right away. Learn more about available VA resources, including the Veterans Crisis Line: https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/mental-health/suicide-prevention/.