Quality

About Quality

The mission of California hospitals is to deliver safe, quality care that is accessible to all. Hospitals participate in many activities to improve the quality and safety of the care they provide. California hospitals have a trusted partner in the Hospital Quality Institute, which helps them reduce errors and maximize patient safety. One of the ways in which HQI does this is by being a source of performance data and analytics. The data help focus improvement opportunities and scale best practices.

CMS Proposes Inadequate IPPS Update for FFY 2026

What’s happening: On April 11, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2026 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule — which falls short of what hospitals need to keep up with rising costs and health care needs.   

What else to know: As a result of all proposed changes, CMS estimates that hospital inpatient payments will increase by $4 billion in FFY 2026. Comments on the proposed rule are due June 10.   

Upcoming Webinar Shares Progress on HQI’s Health Equity Reporting Tool

What’s happening: The Hospital Quality Institute’s (HQI’s) fourth and final webinar on reporting hospital equity measures to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) under Assembly Bill 1204 (2021) will take place April 23 from 10-11 a.m. (PT). 
 
What else to know: This webinar will share essential updates on HQI’s tool to aid hospitals in creating their health equity report, due to HCAI by Sept. 30, and walk attendees through the submission portal. Registration is open.  

Upcoming Webinar Explains HQI Solution to Hospital Equity Reporting Challenges

What’s happening: TheHospital Quality Institute (HQI) is offering a service that provides 95% of the information hospitals are required to report by Sept. 30 under Assembly Bill 1204. HQI is hosting a webinar on April 10 addressing the challenges hospitals encounter in equity reporting and how its Hospital Quality Improvement Platform (HQIP) can simplify this process.  

What else to know: The webinar will share practical strategies and tools to assist hospitals in meeting the mandatory health equity reporting requirements. This is the third in a four-part series; more information can be found on HQI’s website.  

HCAI Seeks Feedback on AB 1204 Technical Assistance by March 31

What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) recently released a survey to the hospital field to ascertain hospitals’ needs in complying with Assembly Bill (AB) 1204 (2021), which requires that they submit annual health equity data reports. The first report is due Sept. 30.  

What else to know: The survey will help HCAI identify areas where additional technical assistance will be needed. Responses to the survey are due by March 31.    

Patient Safety Awareness Week: Renewing Commitment to Quality Care

What’s happening: This year’s National Patient Safety Awareness Week, which runs from March 9-15, is themed “Moving the Needle,” focusing on the importance of taking action to enhance safety for both patients and the teams that care for them.  

What else to know: National Patient Safety Awareness Week is an opportunity for hospitals and health systems to renew their commitment to providing the highest quality and safest patient care.  

March 12 Webinar Will Detail New HQI Program to Support Mandatory Health Equity Reporting

What’s happening: The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) has released a new reporting service, as part of its Hospital Quality Improvement Platform (HQIP), that includes 95% of the information hospitals are required to report by Sept. 30.

What else to know: More information about the requirements — created under Assembly Bill 1204 (Statutes of 2021) — and HQI’s solution will be shared at a webinar on March 12. This webinar is the first of a four-part series; more information can be found on HQI’s website.