Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026. It focuses on making sure the Department of Veterans Affairs pays fair reimbursement rates for home and community-based services. If reimbursement rates for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program were reduced after December 31, 2025, the Secretary must put the old rates back in place. The bill also stops the Secretary from lowering these rates below the December 31, 2025 levels unless Congress is notified 90 days ahead of time. Additionally, the Secretary must submit regular reports to Congress about provider numbers, regional shortages, and how rates are calculated.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill protects the availability and funding of essential home and community-based services for veterans.
- Scored +7
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill mandates the reinstatement of reduced reimbursement rates for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program to support veterans' care.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill requires the Secretary to report on and plan for adequate provider participation to meet veteran demand for home-based care.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a) requires the Secretary to reinstate reimbursement rates that were reduced after December 31, 2025, and bans reducing them below that level without giving Congress a 90-day warning. This is a positive step because it protects the funding for vital in-home care services that veterans rely on.
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Section 2(a) adds a requirement for the Secretary to report to Congress every year on whether there are enough providers to meet veteran demand, identify regions with shortages, and explain plans to fix those shortages. This holds officials accountable and helps ensure veterans in rural and other areas actually get the care they need.
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Section 2(b) forces the Secretary to submit a report to Congress within 90 days detailing the data sources, formulas, weighting factors, and contractor involvement used to set reimbursement rates. This brings much-needed transparency so we can see exactly how decisions affecting our veterans' care are being made.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based strictly on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences, burdens, or harms for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill protects the availability and funding of essential home and community-based services for veterans. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Ensuring stable reimbursement rates for homemaker and home health aide services supports the continuity of care for elderly veterans. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill's focus on reporting inadequate provider participation specifically addresses the needs of underserved regions.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill mandates the reinstatement of reduced reimbursement rates for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program to support veterans' care.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill requires the Secretary to report on and plan for adequate provider participation to meet veteran demand for home-based care.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires reports to Congress detailing the data, weighting factors, and consultation processes used to establish reimbursement rates.
- 7/23/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 7/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Henry CuellarDemocrat · Texas
Joaquin CastroDemocrat · Texas
Veronica EscobarDemocrat · Texas
Al GreenDemocrat · Texas
Vicente GonzalezDemocrat · Texas
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Marc VeaseyDemocrat · Texas
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico