Michelle Lujan Grisham
Governor
Sonya L. Smith
Cabinet Secretary
Contact: Ray Seva
DVS Public Information Officer
ray.seva@nm.gov
(505) 362-6089
November 21, 2022
SANTA FE–The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) has resumed its
Highly Rural Veterans Transportation Program offering free round-trip rides to veterans
to and from their home and any U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or VA-approved medical appointments.
The free round-trip rides are available to any veteran living in the following 15 New
Mexico counties that VA categorizes as “highly rural”—counties with no more than
seven veterans per every 1,000 residents: Catron, Cibola, Colfax, De Baca, Guadalupe,
Harding, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Mora, Quay, San Miguel, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, and
Union.
The program was halted this spring due to issues discovered in the quarterly reporting
to VA. The issues have been resolved, and the grant has been renewed by VA.
“We’re excited to once again provide this free transportation service for veterans to use
for their VA medical appointments, “ said DVS Healthcare Coordination Division Director
Diane Mourning Brown. “Lack of transportation options should not be a reason for a
veteran to neglect their health care needs. So we encourage veterans in these 15
counties to contact us and make an appointment for their free round-trip rides.”
Reservations Are Required
DVS has contracted with four transportation companies to provide the round-trip rides.
Veterans must contact DVS to make a reservation by calling the Highly Rural Veterans
Transportation Program reservation number at (505) 429-5906 Monday- Friday from 9
a.m.- 5 p.m.
Reservations must be made at least three (3) days before a scheduled appointment at a
VA or VA pre-approved medical facility.
One of the contracted transportation companies will contact the veteran 24-hours before
the pickup date to confirm the reservation. On the day of the appointment, the driver will
remain at or in the vicinity of the scheduled medical facility for the duration of the
appointment.
“DVS is very aware that many veterans in other counties, even in our larger non-rural
counties, also do not have transportation options available to them for their medical
appointments,” said Mourning Brown. “We are working on solutions, both legislatively
and through other partnerships, to address this.”
For more non-reservation-related information about the DVS Highly Rural Veterans
Transportation program, contact Connie Vargas at connie.vargas@dvs.nm.gov or (505)
372-8804.
The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) provides support and
services to New Mexico’s 148,000 veterans and their families. DVS treats every
veteran, regardless of their rank achieved during military service, with the respect and
gratitude befitting someone who has served our country. We strive every day to live up
to our agency’s official motto: Serving Those Who Served.
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