VA Expands Non-Nursing Home Care Options for Disabled Veterans
Published Date: 1/12/2026
Notice
Summary
Starting September 11, 2025, the VA can spend more money to help certain veterans get care outside nursing homes. Veterans with ALS, spinal cord injuries, or similar conditions can now get extra support if it’s best for their health. This change means fewer vets will have to pay extra out of pocket, making care easier and fairer.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Non-Institutional Care Covered at 100%
Starting September 11, 2025, the VA will pay up to 100% of the nursing home rate in a fiscal year for eligible veterans who need non-institutional care. This replaces the prior 65% cap and means fewer veterans will have to assume liability for remaining costs or be forced into nursing home admission.
Case-By-Case Approval Above 100%
For veterans whose non-institutional care costs would exceed 100% of the nursing home rate, VA may approve additional spending on a case-by-case basis after clinical review. VA anticipates this will primarily apply to veterans with ALS, spinal cord injuries or similar conditions and expects fewer than 30 veterans per fiscal year will need costs above 100%.
Services Eligible Under Expanded Payments
Under the expanded authority, VA may pay for specific non-institutional services up to the nursing home rate, including Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Home Respite, Community Adult Day Health Care, Veteran Directed Care, Skilled Home Health Care, and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. These services can now be funded up to 100% of the nursing home rate beginning September 11, 2025.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2025-21242 — Extending Deadline for Debtor To Request a Waiver
The VA is giving veterans more time—up to one year instead of 180 days—to ask for a waiver on debts related to benefits. This change, effective January 26, 2026, helps reduce stress by giving veterans extra breathing room to handle their debt issues. It doesn’t cost veterans extra money but makes the process friendlier and fairer.
2025-18827 — Extension of Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Eligibility for Legacy Participants and Legacy Applicants
The VA is giving family caregivers of veterans more time to stay in their special support program by extending the deadline from 2025 to 2028. This means caregivers and veterans who joined the program earlier (the legacy group) can keep getting help for three more years. No changes to money or benefits, just extra time to enjoy the support they deserve!
2025-14687 — Reproductive Health Services
The VA is planning to stop covering abortions and abortion counseling again, reversing a 2022 change. This affects veterans and their families who use VA and CHAMPVA health benefits. The change aims to focus VA services on what they consider essential care, with no new costs or timing details shared yet.
2026-11752 — Grants for the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot; Rescission
The VA is officially ending the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot grant program because its legal permission has expired. This means no new grants will be given, and the rules about this program are being removed to keep things clear and simple. The change takes effect on July 13, 2026, so rural veterans and community groups should note the program is officially closed.
2026-11766 — Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
The Department of Veterans Affairs is updating its records system that helps investigate crimes involving veterans. These changes improve how information is stored, accessed, and kept safe. If you want to share your thoughts, you have 30 days from June 11, 2026, to comment before the new rules take effect.
2026-11494 — Agency Information Collection Activity: Application for Authority To Close Loans on an Automatic Basis Nonsupervised Lenders
The VA is updating how nonsupervised lenders apply to automatically close loans and recognize agents, moving the process online. This change affects lenders who want quicker loan approvals and yearly recertifications, with more people expected to apply. Comments on this update are open until July 9, 2026, and the paperwork burden will nearly double due to more applicants.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-00379 — Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
Union Railroad wants to change how some railroad signals and switches work near a steel mill in Braddock, PA, because of a big steel company merger. They’re asking to remove certain signals and switches to update the yard layout and help ship steel coils better. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until February 11, 2026, to speak up!
Next: 2026-00381 — Foreign-Trade Zone 7; Application for Subzone; Inmobiliaria G.G., LLC; Juncos, Puerto Rico
Inmobiliaria G.G., LLC in Juncos, Puerto Rico, wants to join Foreign-Trade Zone 7 as a new subzone, which could help with trade benefits but won’t start production yet. The public can share their thoughts by February 23, 2026, with a chance to reply by March 9. This move could boost local business without extra costs right now.