Senate Passes Brown Amendment to Require VA to Release Secret Nursing Home Quality Data

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the Senate passed his amendment to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report to Congress on the ratings given to VA-run nursing homes. The measure was passed as a part of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. The Senator's amendment follows a story published in USA Today last week, which showed that the VA nursing facilities in Ohio have only received one- and two- star ratings on a scale of 5.

"These rankings are appalling," said Brown. "VA must release this data so we know where these homes are failing and how to improve care for our veterans."

Brown also met last week with President Trump's nominee to serve as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie. Brown pressed him on greater transparency and solutions to improve care at VA nursing homes.

The amendment was cosponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Doug Jones (D-AL).

This amendment will require the VA to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the quality of care and internal criteria and metrics used to rate the care furnished by VA nursing homes. This will increase transparency of the facilities and improve Congressional oversight of VA.