Heinrich Meets with Veteran-Serving Providers, Discusses Impacts of Trump’s Rate Cuts for Veterans’ Essential Homecare Services

Albuquerque, N.M. - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) met with veteran-serving health care providers to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration's cuts to reimbursement rates for essential home health care services for veterans. The rate cuts come as the Administration is reportedly spending nearly $900 million a day on their war in Iran - putting their reckless war of choice above caring for veterans.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) hosts roundtable with veteran-serving health care providers in Albuquerque, N.M., March 6, 2026.

Heinrich pointed out that, right now, "We are spending almost a billion dollars a day in the Persian Gulf and we can't afford for somebody to have 30 hours of care time who has, who has earned that through their service? And has the complications that they have because of their service? It just, it just says that right now, the administration has its values upside down."

"My dad got his care for as long as he could from the VA. He eventually went into a veteran's home. That's where he passed. We kept him at home as long as we possibly could," Heinrich shared. He continued, asking, "We're spending $900 million a day in the Middle East right now, and we can't afford to make sure that veterans have the most basic health care in their own home?"

Earlier this week, Heinrich led the entire New Mexico Congressional Delegation and U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) in pushing back on the Trump Administration's reimbursement rate cuts and their impact on veterans across New Mexico and parts of Texas.

Veterans receiving home health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have serious disabilities and conditions. The homecare services provided to these veterans are not luxuries. They are essential and allow disabled and elderly veterans to remain in their homes.

Due to the Trump Administration's cuts, as of January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rate for home care services in New Mexico fell by nearly 20 percent, which could result in fewer veterans receiving necessary home services. Approximately 68,000 New Mexico veterans over the age of 65 rely on VA health care, and nationally, one in ten of these veterans use at least one home health care service.

Additional Heinrich efforts to support New Mexico Veterans:

In December 2025, Heinrich condemned the Trump Administration's announced plan to eliminate tens of thousands of positions within the Veterans Health Administration, which could include positions at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in New Mexico.

In March 2025, Heinrich introduced the Putting Veteran's First Act, legislation that reverses the chaos and damage created at the VA by Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE).

In February 2025, Heinrich and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) demanded that VA Secretary Doug Collins immediately secure veterans' personal information provided by the VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and DOGE. This call followed Musk's takeover of the U.S. Treasury's payment system, which includes private information of veterans and their families, and reports of DOGE employees accessing VA computer systems at the Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Heinrich also demanded answers from President Trump's administration about Musk and DOGE gaining access to veterans' VA medical records.

In 2022, Heinrich led the effort to block attempts to close CBOCs in New Mexico and championed the bipartisan PACT Act into law. The PACT Act authorizes one of the largest expansions of VA health care and benefits in U.S. history, increasing health care eligibility for generations of toxic-exposed Veterans, giving them access to the health care they've earned and deserve.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Heinrich has also fought hard to deliver federal funding for veterans. This included securing major wins in the VA's FY26 funding legislation, such as:

Suicide Prevention: Heinrich successfully secured $18.9 billion for mental health treatment, including $698 million for suicide prevention outreach. Heinrich also secured language encouraging the VA to use predictive modeling and analytics for veteran suicide prevention in the Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH VET) program. This innovative solution will identify veterans with evidence-based risk factors for suicidal ideation in order to get help to veterans before a potential mental health crisis.

In 2020, Heinrich voted in favor of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-171), which supported and authorized the REACH VET program.

Rural Health: Heinrich successfully secured $342.5 million for the VA's Office of Rural Health and its Rural Health Initiative to continue supporting veterans with services like transportation to appointments for highly rural veterans, utilization of innovative transportation service technologies, and outreach to highly rural veterans.

An estimated 2.7 million rural and highly rural veterans are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Many rural veterans enrolled in the VA health care system are at an advanced age, with approximately 54 percent aged 65 or older. With the aging veteran population growing increasingly medically complex and more likely to be diagnosed with chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease, each requiring more frequent, ongoing, and costly care, these funds will help close the gap and get highly rural veterans the care they need.

Telehealth Services: Heinrich successfully secured $6.4 billion to sustain and increase telehealth capacity and expand the reach of VA medical providers to veterans in highly rural areas through the use of in-home telehealth and remote patient monitoring services. The bill also supports the VHA's rulemaking to eliminate copays for all virtual medical appointments of any type and especially for primary and preventative care appointments.

Preventing Veteran Homelessness: Heinrich successfully secured $3.5 billion to prevent veteran homelessness, including $659 million to bolster the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, which will meet the needs of veterans including help with the rising costs of household goods; $703 million for case management and administration of Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers; $277 million for the Grant and Per Diem Program, which will support transitional housing and assist veterans in achieving housing stability; and $174 million for Veterans Justice Outreach and Legal Services for Veterans grants to award community-based organizations with funds to assist veterans with legal issues like accessing benefits, navigating family law, and securing safe and stable housing.

Construction of State Extended Care Facilities: Heinrich successfully secured $275 million in construction funds for state extended care facilities. In New Mexico, there is only one VA long-term care facility, despite demand for additional capacity and facilities. These facilities are particularly important to ensure aging and disabled veterans receive the appropriate level of care.

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