Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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 there are fair reimbursement rates for home and community-based services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under section 2, the bill requires the Secretary to reinstate any reimbursement rates for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program that were reduced after December 31, 2025. It also stops the Secretary from lowering these rates below the rates in effect on that date unless Congress is notified 90 days before the reduction happens. Additionally, the legislation requires regular reports to be sent to Congress regarding provider participation adequacy and the data sources used to set these rates.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +8
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The act specifically ensures fair reimbursement rates for veterans' home-based care and monitors adequate provider access.
- Scored +8
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The legislation ensures fair reimbursement rates for veterans' home and community-based services and mandates reporting on provider adequacy.
- Scored +8
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill protects home-based care benefits for veterans by stabilizing reimbursement rates and monitoring provider availability.
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 for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program that were reduced after December 31, 2025, and stops the Secretary from reducing rates below that date unless Congress is notified 90 days in advance. This is positive because it protects payment rates from dropping without giving elected officials a long heads-up to hold the Department accountable.
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Section 2(a) requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress annually and within 180 days specifying whether provider numbers are adequate, identifying regions where participation is lacking, and explaining plans to ensure the needs of veterans are met. This is positive because it forces officials to check on whether veterans are actually getting the care they need in their local communities.
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Section 2(b) requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress within 90 days detailing the data sources, weighting factors, contractor roles, provider consultations, and formulas used to establish reimbursement rates. This is positive because it brings transparency to how decisions affecting veteran care are made behind closed doors.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(a) allows the Secretary to reduce reimbursement rates for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program as long as Congress is notified 90 days before the reduction takes effect. This could be seen as a burden or negative because it still permits rate cuts that could affect service providers after the waiting period passes.
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 act specifically ensures fair reimbursement rates for veterans' home-based care and monitors adequate provider access. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The legislation specifically targets rural veterans and rural provider availability to ensure proper care access. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Veterans requiring home and community-based care often have physical or cognitive disabilities that are supported by this legislation. Would retired people be better off under this? — Older retired veterans relying on VA home health programs benefit from protected and stable reimbursement rates. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Many veterans receiving home and community-based care are seniors who benefit directly from stable home health services. Would business owners be better off under this? — Home health care business owners and providers benefit from protected reimbursement rates.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The legislation ensures fair reimbursement rates for veterans' home and community-based services and mandates reporting on provider adequacy. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By protecting and stabilizing reimbursement rates, the bill helps maintain adequate provider participation for home-based care.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill protects home-based care benefits for veterans by stabilizing reimbursement rates and monitoring provider availability.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires detailed reports and data disclosures from the VA regarding how reimbursement rates are determined and evaluated.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — By explicitly focusing on rural veterans and home-based care availability, the bill supports healthcare infrastructure in rural areas.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill helps home-based care providers by reinstating and protecting reimbursement rates for veterans' home health care services.
- 7/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
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.