Deadly wait for Houston veterans

Published: Aug 19, 2024 Duration: 00:02:24 Category: News & Politics
Tags : news kriv fox_26 fox_26_houston
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legal analyst, Chris Tritico on this verdict. Well, only on Fox tonight. The long wait for veterans in Houston to get treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues is causing an uptick in suicide and overdoses. Fox 26 is. Randy Wallace joins us live now from the VA medical center with the exclusive Randy. Yeah. Anthony. Now the mission Act passed in 2018 gave veterans the right to seek treatment through a community care network. But some say since January, VA hospitals all over the country are circumventing that law with deadly consequences. You've asked that I not identify you to because you're worried that the VA might retaliate against. You could correct both of these veterans who had substance abuse issues of their own, are now working to help other vets struggling with drugs, PTSD and homelessness. How long are some veterans waiting to get substance abuse treatment? Yeah, I've had veterans wait over a month. There shouldn't be a wait because of the Mission Act, which became law in 2018, you could not get a mental health substance abuse within 30 minute drive of your residence, or a 20 day wait from when you needed it. Then you have the absolute right for community care provider in the network. In January, a mandate took away a veteran's right to get treatment sooner through a community provider and not the VA. According to the Red team report, the increasing number of veterans being referred for community health care and the rapidly rising costs are eroding the VA's direct care system. That means veterans are waiting longer for treatment, especially for substance abuse issues. There's an increase in the suicide rate, and many veterans are in danger, health care wise and suicide wise, because they're not getting the treatment or they're being told they have to wait. You know, of three veterans who committed suicide? I do while waiting. Correct? Yeah. That I was personally assisting myself. You believe there's at least 100 veterans since January that have needed substance abuse help, and they haven't gotten it at least at least at least 100. Now, we reached out to the VA hospital for response. We've yet to hear

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