Letter to the Editor: Offers information on the COMPACT Act

In January, the new COMPACT Act went into effect across the United States. The COMPACT Act is the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment legislation that allows all honorably discharged Veterans who are experiencing a suicidal crisis to go to any mental healthcare facility for no-cost treatment.

This provision makes critical, and potentially lifesaving, support available to our dedicated Veteran community who have served our nation. The COMPACT Act allows the VA to provide, pay, or reimburse treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, as well as follow-up for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care, and make referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.

The expansion of access is designed to help prevent veteran suicide by guaranteeing no-cost behavior healthcare in times of crisis. It will also increase access to suicide care for up to nine million veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA.

As a behavioral healthcare provider right here in New Kent, our team is dedicated to be there in a manner that promotes hope, resiliency, connectedness, and recovery.

Garrett Hamilton
CEO/Managing Director
Cumberland Hospital