Episode 74 - You Shouldn’t Have to Worry

On our last episode, we highlighted the fact that September is National Suicide Prevention Month and talked about some of the issues surrounding Veteran Suicide.  One of the issues we didn't address is the barrier that some Veterans feel exists when they need to access immediate care to keep themselves safe from self-harm and they are not exactly sure how it works or how much it will cost them.  Those barriers and the feeling that getting help may worsen the problem by putting them in medical debt is being addressed thanks to the passage of the COMPACT Act, allowing Veterans to get free emergency medical care relating to immediate suicide concerns.

On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Natalie Wells, COMPACT Act Coordinator and Sheika Adams, Nurse Manager for Transitional Care Community Inpatient, about what the COMPACT Act means for Veterans, some of the types of care covered under this new benefit, and how the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is leading the way for the VA as a whole in implementing this new legislation.