VA hospitals across the country earn high ratings for providing quality care to veterans - See which ones

VA hospitals across the country earn high ratings for providing quality care to veterans – See which ones

When it comes to caring for veterans, 87 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals across the country have received high ratings in the latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital rankings report.

admin September 26, 2026 2 minutes read

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The VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo was one of 50 VA hospitals to earn a 5-star rating. (VA Western New York Healthcare System)

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Dig deeper:

The CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating evaluates hospitals using dozens of quality measures divided into these core areas:

Mortality: Patient survival rates for specific conditions or procedures.
Safety of Care: The rates of hospital-acquired infections, surgical complications, and patient injuries.
Readmission: An evaluation of unplanned 30-day hospital readmissions after a patient is discharged.
Patient Experience: This evaluation uses the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey to record patient feedback on communication, staff responsiveness, and cleanliness.
Timely & Effective Care: An assessment of how promptly and appropriately recommended medical treatments are delivered.

CMS then uses the methodology to calculate an Overall Star Rating of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 stars. In the latest CMS annual report, 78% of VA hospitals received an Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating of four or five stars.

78% of VA hospitals received an Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, earning four or five stars

(VA)

The VA says the new CMS report marks the fourth consecutive year that VA facilities have outperformed non-VA facilities, and the second year in a row that no VA hospital received a one-star rating.

What they’re saying:

“We look forward to continuing to deliver the results Veterans have earned at VA facilities across the nation,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins in a release.

50 VA hospitals earned a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5-star rating for quality care

37 VA hospitals earned a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 4-star rating for quality care

Mission statement of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The backstory:

The VA was established as the Veterans Administration in 1930 and was elevated to a cabinet-level executive branch agency in 1989. In addition to hospitals, the VA also operates the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA).