Under the FY 2026 Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP), applicable subsection (d) hospitals in the worst-performing quartile based on the Total HAC Score receive a 1% payment reduction on applicable Medicare fee-for-service payments. CMS defines the worst-performing quartile as hospitals whose Total HAC Score is above the 75th percentile.
The FY 2026 program incorporates the CMS Patient Safety and Adverse Events Composite (PSI 90) plus five healthcare-associated infection measures: CLABSI, CAUTI, specified surgical-site infection, MRSA bacteremia, and C. difficile infection.
A single HAC does not automatically trigger the hospital-wide 1% HACRP reduction. Likewise, CMI is not the criterion used to determine HACRP penalties.
It is also important for CCDS candidates to distinguish the HAC Reduction Program from the separate DRA HAC/POA payment provision. CMS explicitly identifies them as distinct programs.
Accurate documentation and coding are important because quality measures rely on reliable clinical data, but CDI activity must remain focused on accurately representing the clinical record rather than manipulating quality metrics.
CCDS Reference Topics: HAC Reduction Program; PSI 90; HAI measures; quality payment; hospital performance.
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