{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dingell-walberg-seek-answers-poor-detroit-va-ranking", "Dingell, Walberg Seek Answers on Poor Detroit VA Ranking", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Debbie Dingell", "D000624", "debbiedingell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Tim Walberg (MI-07) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald seeking answers about steps that are being taken to improve performance and quality of care at the Detroit VA. The letter follows press reports that the Detroit VA Medical Center has become a one-star facility based on an internal rating system used by the VA, called the Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) database.\n\u201cWe are deeply disturbed to learn that the Detroit VA, which serves many of our constituents, has fallen to a one-star facility,\u201d the Representatives wrote. \u201cThe slip to a one-star facility is extremely troubling and we must ensure that veterans receiving healthcare at the facility not be harmed in any way. We must get at the root causes of the problems at the Detroit VA in an expeditious manner.\u201d\nThe Detroit VA saw performance deteriorations in three critical SAIL categories: their Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) score, wait time for specialty care appointments and readmission rates for cardiovascular and medical patient cohorts. The Representatives are requesting information about how VA Headquarters intends to ensure the Detroit VA improves on each target area, the timeline for doing so, and what Congress needs to do to ensure progress is being made and patients are safe. The Representatives also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the SAIL database.\n\u201cAs you know, this information is not released to the public,\u201d they wrote. \u201cVeterans, just like every other patient, deserve to know how their hospitals are performing and what services need to be improved. Having a secret rating system only serves to increase distrust of the VA and may give the appearance that the Department has something to hide. To address these concerns, we introduced legislation earlier this year that would improve transparency at the VA by requiring each VA medical facility to issue a quarterly report on the rate of surgical infections and cancelled or transferred surgeries at VA hospitals. Increasing transparency is critical to understanding the type of care veterans are receiving and how to fix any problems we are facing.\u201d\nDingell and Walberg will meet with Mr. Robert McDivitt, Director for VISN 10, and Dr. Pamela Reeves, Director of the Detroit VA Medical Center, this week and will continue working with the VA to address the problems and ensure veterans are receiving the best possible care.\nThe full letter can be read here and below.\nDecember 12, 2016\nThe Honorable Robert McDonald  \n\tSecretary  \n\tU.S. Department of Veteran\u2019s Affairs  \n\t810 Vermont Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20420\nDear Secretary McDonald:  \n\t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 This letter is regarding the poor rating of the Detroit VA Medical Center which we learned of last Friday following the public release of an internal rating system used by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to assess the performance of VA hospitals. \u00a0We are deeply disturbed to learn that the Detroit VA, which serves many of our constituents, has fallen to a one-star facility. \u00a0 The slip to a one-star facility is extremely troubling and we must ensure that veterans receiving healthcare at the facility not be harmed in any way. \u00a0We must get at the root causes of the problems at the Detroit VA in an expeditious manner.\u00a0\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Part of the issue is the lack of transparency surrounding the quality rating system used by the VA, called the Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) database. \u00a0As you know, this information is not released to the public. \u00a0Veterans, just like every other patient, deserve to know how their hospitals are performing and what services need to be improved. \u00a0Having a secret rating system only serves to increase distrust of the VA and may give the appearance that the Department has something to hide. \u00a0To address these concerns, we introduced legislation earlier this year that would improve transparency at the VA by requiring each VA medical facility to issue a quarterly report on the rate of surgical infections and cancelled or transferred surgeries at VA hospitals. Increasing transparency is critical to understanding the type of care veterans are receiving and how to fix any problems we are facing.\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In regards to the current situation, we are committed to working with you and the leadership at the Detroit VA to address these problems so veterans know they are receiving the best possible care. We request answers to the following questions:  \n\t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0  \n\t1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Please provide us with a complete and un-redacted copy of the latest SAIL star rankings, as well as a list of all rankings going back 5 years. \u00a0 As you are aware, our only knowledge of the star rankings is coming from press reports.\u00a0\n2.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The Detroit VA saw performance deteriorations in three critical SAIL categories: their HEDIS score, wait time for specialty care appointments and readmission rates for cardiovascular and medical patient cohorts. \u00a0How does VA Headquarters intend to ensure that the Detroit VA improves on each of these important targets? \u00a0 What is the timeline for these improvements? \u00a0How will we be kept informed of their progress?\n3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Does the Detroit VA have to submit a formal plan to VA Headquarters for how they intend to improve their performance and quality of care? \u00a0\n4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0What assistance and resources is VA Headquarters offering the Detroit VA, or any other one-star facility, to ensure all necessary and appropriate measures to improve care at the facility are occurring?\n5.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0In general, are there any penalties or punishment in place for one-star hospitals in the VA system? \u00a0If so, please provide a detailed explanation of the penalties. \u00a0If not, please explain why the VA thinks it is unnecessary to have increased accountability for struggling hospitals. \u00a0\u00a0\n6.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0How is the public informed if a hospital in their area only has one star? What type of accountability systems are in place for a hospital which stayed at one-star status for over a year to ensure performance is immediately improved? \u00a0How many hospitals nationwide have been one-star hospitals for over a year?\n7.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0How are the metrics used in the SAIL system determined? \u00a0How often are these metrics reviewed and updated?\u00a0\n8.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Will both VA Headquarters and the Detroit VA commit to providing our offices with regular briefing and updates on your progress in improving the star rating of the Detroit VA?\n9.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0How do we ensure that veterans that are currently receiving treatment at the Detroit VA are being properly cared for and are not in danger?\u00a0\nWe are deeply disturbed to read this report in last Friday\u2019s newspaper. Providing for our veterans is a critical responsibility for you and us. \u00a0It is absolutely essential that we ensure veterans at the Detroit VA are receiving the good, quality healthcare which they were promised and that it not be impaired in any way. \u00a0We are meeting with Mr. Robert McDivitt, Director for VISN 10, and Dr. Pamela Reeves, Director of the Detroit VA Medical Center, this week and must be kept informed of how this will be fixed moving forward. \u00a0We all must come together to address the problems at the Detroit VA so our veterans can have confidence that they are receiving the best possible care which they were promised. \u00a0 Providing prompt answers to our questions and working to improve transparency at the VA will help us achieve these critical goals. \u00a0We look forward to receiving your response.\u00a0\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Debbie Dingell \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Tim Walberg  \n\t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Member of Congress \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dingell-walberg-seek-answers-poor-detroit-va-ranking"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.774829113855958, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}