{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://meehan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meehan-seeks-answers-on-area-va-hospital-ratings", "Meehan Seeks Answers on Area VA Hospital Ratings", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Pat Meehan", "M001181", "meehan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Congressman Patrick Meehan (R/PA-7) today wrote the Department of Veterans Affairs seeking information on the department\u2019s ratings of VA medical centers (VAMCs) in the Philadelphia area. A report by USA Today published this week revealed the existence of a one- to five-star rating system for VA medical facilities that before now had not been made public.\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform deserve the very best care after serving our nation and the transparency to ensure that the medical centers they visit are held accountable for providing quality care,\u201d Meehan wrote. \u201cWhen it comes to ensuring high-quality care for our veterans at the hands of the VA, the answer is more information and more transparency \u2013 not less.\u201d\nThe USA Today report indicated that as of the end of 2015, the VA medical centers in Philadelphia and Wilmington received only three out of a possible five stars. The facility in Lebanon County, Pa. received only four stars.\nMore recent ratings data for these facilities was not made public by the USA Today report.\n\u201cAccording to the 2015 data provided in the USA Today report, the Philadelphia and Wilmington VAMCs only received a 3-star rating. The Lebanon VAMC only received a 4-star rating. What steps have been taken to improve the care and service these VAMCs provide for the veterans they serve?\u201d Meehan asked.\nThe full text of Meehan\u2019s letter is below.\n\u00a0\nDecember 8, 2016\n\u00a0\nDr. David Shulkin\nUndersecretary for Health\nU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\n810 Vermont Ave, NW\nWashington, DC 20420\n\u00a0\nDear Dr. Shulkin:\nI write to you today regarding a recent report by USA Today regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) one- to five-star ratings for VA medical centers (VAMCs). \u00a0On behalf of the region\u2019s veterans, I am requesting information regarding the ratings for the VAMCs serving my constituent veterans following the release of data on other VA medical facilities. Our men and women in uniform deserve the very best care after serving our nation and the transparency to ensure that the medical centers they visit are held accountable for providing quality care.\nI wish to inquire about the following:\n What data and methodology does the VA use to determine star ratings for VAMCs?\n\tWhat are the most recent star ratings for the Philadelphia, Lebanon, and Wilmington VAMCs? How have those ratings changed since the VA began rating VAMCs?\n\tAre any of the local VAMCs currently on the high-risk watch list, or have they been in the past?\n\tHow does the VA work with low-performing VAMCs to develop and oversee improvement plans?\u00a0\n\tAccording to the 2015 data provided in the USA Today report, the Philadelphia and Wilmington VAMCs only received a 3-star rating. The Lebanon VAMC only received a 4-star rating. What steps have been taken to improve the care and service these VAMCs provide for the veterans they serve?\n When it comes to ensuring high-quality care for our veterans at the hands of the VA, the answer is more information and more transparency \u2013 not less.\nThank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\nPatrick Meehan\nMember 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://meehan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meehan-seeks-answers-on-area-va-hospital-ratings"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8043844029307365, "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"}