Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
Would protect reimbursement rates for VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide services and force clearer, scheduled reporting on how those rates are set. It focuses on rural veterans by barring cuts below the rates in effect on December 31, 2025 unless Congress gets 90 days' notice and by requiring detailed transparency about rate methods.
Show full summary
- Veterans and families: Would reinstate and shield VA home- and community-based care reimbursement at the December 31, 2025 level for Homemaker and Home Health Aide services, limiting sudden rate cuts that could affect service availability in rural areas.
- Providers and regional capacity: Would require annual reviews of provider capacity and regional participation, with the first review due no later than 180 days after enactment, to spot gaps and plan to keep rural coverage adequate.
- Congressional oversight and transparency: Would require an initial report within 90 days detailing data sources, weighting and adjustment factors, contractor roles, provider consultation, and modeling methods used to set reimbursement rates, plus ongoing annual reporting.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Restore VA home-care pay rates
If enacted, the VA would restore any reimbursement rates cut after December 31, 2025 for Homemaker and Home Health Aide services back to the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. The VA would not be allowed to reduce those rates below the December 31, 2025 levels unless it notifies Congress at least 90 days before the reduction would take effect. This change would apply on and after the date of enactment. It would help protect pay for home-care providers and help veterans keep access to home-based services.
VA reports on home-care rates
If enacted, the VA would send Congress a report within 90 days explaining the data and methods used to set reimbursement rates for Homemaker and Home Health Aide services. The report would say if VA used Medicare, Medicaid, or private-market data, list weights and adjustments, describe contractor roles, and show models, formulas, variables, and assumptions. The VA would also send a report not later than 180 days after enactment and every year after that on whether there are enough providers, which regions lack participation, and plans to fix gaps. These reports would increase transparency but would not create new funding or change who qualifies for care.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov