§1720J Emergent Suicide Care

Summary

The Secretary must provide, pay for, or reimburse emergency suicide care for eligible people who are in an acute suicidal crisis. Care can be given at a VA medical facility or paid for at a non-VA facility. A person is eligible if they are a veteran or meet the criteria in section 1720I(b). Care can be inpatient or crisis residential for up to 30 days, or, if that is not available or not right for the person, outpatient care for up to 90 days. The Secretary may extend care if the person is still in crisis. If care is given at a non-VA facility, the patient (or someone acting for them) must tell the VA within seven days of admission. The VA must notify its Suicide Prevention Coordinator and the nearest Office of Community Care when the Veterans Crisis Line recommends care or when it learns a person in crisis is receiving care. The VA must also check whether the person is eligible for other VA programs and make referrals for follow-up care. The VA may not charge the person for emergency suicide care and must pay for emergency transport. If the VA pays a non-VA facility, it must reimburse the facility a reasonable amount and may set payment rules similar to other non-VA payments. If the person has another health plan, the VA can try to recover costs except for care for a service‑connected disability. The VA must send Congress a yearly report showing how many people got care, their basic demographics, the kinds of care given, and the total cost. Definitions (one line each): acute suicidal crisis — imminent risk of self-harm; crisis residential care — short-term care in a nonhospital home-like setting; crisis stabilization care — immediate care to make a person safe and reduce urgent needs; emergent suicide care — crisis stabilization after a Veterans Crisis Line recommendation or when someone shows up in crisis; health-plan contract — other health insurance; Veterans Crisis Line — the VA suicide hotline.