Birmingham VA hospital drops to 4 stars in latest CMS quality rating
No Alabama hospital scored more than that.
Mason Reed 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its latest hospital quality ratings in May, and the Birmingham Veterans Affair Health Care system has earned a 4-star rating.
This new mark is a slight dip from the maximum five stars the system achieved in 2025. Prior to that stellar 2025 performance, the facility had earned a 3-star rating in 2024.
In an email statement to 205focus.com on Wednesday, the Birmingham VA health system emphasized that a 4-star rating still ranks the facility among the elite hospitals in Alabama. According to CMS data, no hospital in the state achieved higher than a 4-star rating this year, placing Birmingham VA within the top-tier group of Alabama providers.
Commitment to Care
"VA Birmingham’s 4-star rating still places it in the highest rated group of hospitals in Alabama," the system stated. "Notably, 4 stars is considered to be above average." The health system noted that CMS updates its ratings process regularly to reflect new national comparisons and quality measures.
The administration remains focused on its mission, stating, "While we are always working to improve access and patient experience, VA Birmingham is proud of the exceptional care our dedicated teams provide to Veterans throughout Alabama and we remain focused on providing safe, Veteran-centric care to Veterans."
The Birmingham VA system operates a robust network of clinics serving the region, including locations in Bessemer, Birmingham, Childersburg, Florence, Guntersville, Huntsville, Jasper, Rainbow City, and Oxford.
National Context
Nationwide, the trend for VA facilities has been positive. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the percentage of VA hospitals receiving four or five stars has climbed steadily from 58% in 2024 to 78% in 2026.
The CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings are calculated based on five distinct performance categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission rates, patient experience, and the timeliness and effectiveness of care.
