H.R. 9752: Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026

This bill would change how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays for certain

home- and community-based care services

for veterans, with a focus on keeping those services available, especially in rural areas.

What the bill would do

• Restore certain payment cuts: If VA reimbursement rates for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program were reduced after December 31, 2025, the VA would have to put those rates back to what they were on that date.

• Limit future rate cuts: The VA could not lower those reimbursement rates below the December 31, 2025 level unless it tells Congress at least 90 days before the cut takes effect.

• Require ongoing reporting on provider availability: Within 180 days of enactment, and then every year after that, the VA would have to report to Congress on whether there are enough providers to meet veteran demand for homemaker and home health aide services, where shortages exist, and what the VA plans to do about them.

• Require a detailed report on how rates are set: Within 90 days, the VA would have to tell Congress what data it uses to set reimbursement rates, including whether it uses Medicare, Medicaid, or private-market data; what adjustments it makes; whether contractors or third-party administrators help decide the rates; how it consults with providers; and what formulas or models it uses.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill is meant to make sure pay rates for certain VA-funded home care services do not drop without advance notice to Congress, and to increase transparency about how those payment rates are determined. It also requires the VA to keep Congress informed about whether enough providers are available to serve veterans, particularly in areas where access may be limited.

Relevant Companies

None found