VA Cuts Care Hours, Vietnam Vet Left with 13 Hours Weekly

For veterans like Harold Roper, a former Air Force member who worked on the Apollo 13 mission, life-altering cancer has necessitated reliance on the VA's home health aide program. However, his weekly care hours have plummeted from 58 to just 13 due to revised approval processes in Texas. This situation is exacerbated by an impending 43% reduction in reimbursement rates for rural caregivers starting in January, a move the VA claims aligns rates statewide but which agencies fear will cripple services for remote veterans.

The VA's Home Health Aide program, which assists over 15,000 veterans with daily tasks to enable independent living, has seen a substantial decrease in funding. Internal reports reveal a nearly $125 million, or 23%, drop in spending over the past year following changes in how care hours are evaluated and approved. VA officials maintain the program is intended for essential daily assistance, not round-the-clock care, urging veterans needing more support to explore alternative VA programs.

Caregivers and veteran families express deep concern over these changes. Scott Wells, who operates Home Health Purple Heart, warns that the rural rate reduction will force staff cuts and service scaling, impacting vital support like transportation and legal aid. Michelle Jeffries, an East Texas caregiver, fears the diminished pay may force her to leave clients who rely on her for social interaction, jeopardizing the quality of care she can provide. Veterans and their families stress their need for adequate care hours to remain safely at home, urging the VA to rectify its auditing processes without compromising essential support.