Veterans must only be offered alternative residential treatment if their wait time is greater than 30 days. This should be available immediately.

According to VHA Directive 1162.02 Appendix A Section 3 Admission Process, sub-section g, paragraph 6, "Any Veteran with a scheduled wait time of greater than 30 calendar days must be offered alternative residential treatment or another level of care that meets the Veteran's needs and preferences at the time of screening". However, a Veteran in need of Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) services has an immediate need for treatment, and they should have immediate access to alternative residential treatment should there be a scheduled wait time.

By maintaining a 30 day waiting period, Veterans experiencing a mental health crisis (to include alcohol or substance use disorders) may be forced to wait weeks to receive help they desparately deserve. Instead, it should read "Any Veteran with ANY scheduled wait time must be offered alternative residential treatment or another level of care that meets the Veteran's needs and preferences at the time of screening".

The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States urges Congress to remove the requirement for a 30-day wait time in order for a Veteran to have access to alternative mental health residential rehabilitation treatment.