The VA has an internal star rating system that it uses to track improvement (or worsening) and quality of care at 146 medical centers. The rating system ranges from one to five stars and is apparently only meant as a system by which the VA itself can measure changes. The VA Undersecretary for Health David Shulkin stated that this system is an “internal improvement tool” and not so much a “ranking tool.” He continued that he’s concerned that vets will see the rating and assume they shouldn’t visit that specific facility.

USA Today released the rating system data from the 4^th quarter of 2015 and 2^nd quarter of 2016 for comparison. Seven of the one star-rated facilities remained one star between 2015 and 2016 and six made it up to two stars from one. However, three facilities that were rated as two star facilities worsened and were demoted to one star. So down at the bottom of the facility list there is quite a lot of stagnation and backwards motion.

Unfortunately the story in this case is not that 10 facilities have a one star rating, but rather than the VA was very reluctant to make the public aware of the ratings. VA is reluctant to share other national data on performance as well. House VA Chair Jeff Miller stated “the secrecy with which VA treats these quality ratings is alarming.” But at this point given the lack of transparency from the VA in the past, it’s not surprising.

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