Health committee: VA billed for clinical care; federal grant funds used for peer support and training for first responders

The Iroquois County Health Committee heard Oct. 7 that veterans who seek clinical mental-health treatment through the county’s community mental-health center are billed directly to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs when they have VA benefits, while separate, federally funded grant money is being spent on peer-support groups, outreach and training for first responders and veterans.

At the committee’s meeting, Jennifer (VA representative) told members that clinical care provided through the community care network is a standard pay-source arrangement: “If they have VA benefits, we bill the VA directly,” she said. Committee members raised questions after learning the grant-funded activities were described alongside VA billing in prior conversations.

The distinction matters because the federal grant discussed does…