VA Releases 2026 Fee Schedule: HCAOA Raises Concerns Over Deep Cuts

12/3/2025

On Friday, November 21, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released the 2026 VA Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026. Unlike recent years, the schedule does not include an across-the-board 3% inflationary increase.

More concerning, the VA implemented major rate restructuring in Texas and New Mexico for G0156 (Home Health Aide) and S5130 (Homemaker) codes. In Texas, the VA replaced its tiered locality structure with a single statewide rate, slightly increasing fees for five urban and suburban areas but significantly reducing rates across vast rural regions. For much of rural Texas, this equates to a 43% reduction for G0156. New Mexico also saw major cuts, with G0156 reduced by 19%.

On Monday, November 24, the HCAOA VA Advisory Council contacted VA leadership seeking clarification on whether these changes were intentional and whether additional context would be provided. VA leadership confirmed the accuracy of the published rates.

In response, the HCAOA VA Advisory Council is drafting letters to VA leadership and to the VA Under Secretaries for Health urging them to reconsider these reductions and reassess their impact on access to home care services for veterans. HCAOA will also communicate with congressional delegations from the affected states, urging lawmakers to work with the VA to prevent implementation of these deeply concerning cuts.

The HCAOA VA Advisory Council sincerely appreciates the members who submitted feedback and data on regional cost conditions impacting veteran care. Your input has been helpful in shaping our understanding of what agencies are facing on the ground, and it directly informs our advocacy on this issue.

HCAOA will continue to monitor developments closely and will keep members informed of any updates or grassroots advocacy opportunities. For questions or to share how these changes may affect your agency and the veterans you serve, please contact HCAOA Vice President of Government Relations, Eric Reinarman.

micah Gibbs-Gonzalez link

12/3/2025 09:59:37 am

My team of caregivers, staff, friends, family and veterans continue to reach out to our local and state legislators.
Our impact stories can go on and on.

Subject: Urgent Appeal to Protect Texas Veterans from Harmful Cuts to VA-Funded In-Home Care

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing with an urgent plea on behalf of Texas veterans who are facing severe and immediate harm due to recent reductions in VA-funded in-home care hours and reimbursement. As the owner of ComForCare Home Care Rio Grande Valley, our agency proudly provides essential daily care to more than 50 veterans across the RGV. These men and women have served our country with honor, and they rely on these services to live safely, with dignity, in their homes.

The recent cuts are already causing devastating consequences. Veterans who depend on caregivers for groceries, medication reminders, transportation to medical appointments, hygiene assistance, and companionship are now at risk of losing the very support that keeps them stable and prevents hospitalizations.

Our caregivers—Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides—go above and beyond every single day. They never turn away a veteran in need. Even when a veteran exhausts their allotted hours, our team refuses to leave them alone in unsafe or painful circumstances.

Just last week, one of our caregivers alerted us that Mr. H, who is undergoing radiation treatments, was in severe pain and needed emergency hospital care. Although his weekly hours had been exhausted, his caregiver stayed with him off the clock because she would not leave him to suffer alone. Our care services manager personally brought a chair cushion and sat with him for over five hours in the emergency room until he was admitted. This story is not the exception—it is the daily reality of caregiving.

ComForCare ensures these compassionate caregivers are paid for every minute of work, often at overtime rates. But the current and proposed reimbursement cuts will make it financially impossible to continue providing this level of care. We will be forced to reduce hours, turn away needs, or watch our veterans go without critical support.

Texas veterans deserve better. They deserve stability, dignity, and the ability to remain in their homes with adequate support. We urge you to reconsider these cuts, restore sustainable reimbursement, and protect the wellbeing of those who have sacrificed for our country.

Our veterans served us without hesitation. Please do not abandon them now.

Sincerely,
Micah Gibbs
Owner, ComForCare Home Care – Rio Grande Valley

Megan Casey

12/4/2025 03:10:31 pm

Veterans deserve more. We've started a petition and are nearing our goal. Please consider signing to help Veterans in Rural Texas and New Mexico. https://c.org/RJ9X62vwZp

Megan Casey link

12/4/2025 03:17:33 pm

https://c.org/RJ9X62vwZp

Tom

12/4/2025 03:32:42 pm

<a href="URL">https://www.change.org/p/help-veterans-remain-safe?cs_tk=A4ZZTVPzE4Y9Uz-uOWkAAHicq64FAAF1APk1MTQ4ZDUzM2FiMGI5NjVmYmMyNmZmNjZiMzAxNmJjMjE3ZGRmZjAwOTdkZjNkMjFmMWUxYWJhYjg5ZWUxNTcx&utm_campaign=ab2d29a41a9647dbb257fc624fdfa404&utm_content=20250721_supporter_milestone_500_v1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=633943_supporter_milestone_500&utm_term=itbl</a>

Dennis Crippen

12/5/2025 03:31:14 pm

I looked at the fee schedule. My location is covered under REST OF NEW JERSEY. For the last 2 years we have used G0156 for HHA services. Bur now, G0156 is not listed at all. Do you know what the HHA code and the RN visit code is now for my area?

Thesis Editing UK link

12/7/2025 07:08:13 pm

Thank you

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VA Releases 2026 Fee Schedule: HCAOA Raises Concerns Over Deep Cuts

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