Required and Voluntary eCQM Updates for the CY 2026 Hospital OQR Reporting Period

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides updates on electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) reporting requirements for hospitals participating in the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program for the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 reporting period (affecting CY 2028 payment determination).

Required eCQM

Hospitals are required to report the following eCQM: Appropriate Treatment for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Patients in the Emergency Department

Reporting Requirements:

• Submit data for three self-selected quarters of CY 2026
• Submit data through the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) system
• Deadline: May 17, 2027, at 11:59 PM PT

Submission Format:

• Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) Category I files
• Denominator declarations, when applicable
• Technical Requirement:
• Data must be generated using ONC-certified health IT that meets the 2015 Edition Cures Update certification criteria

Voluntary eCQM

CMS will continue voluntary reporting for: Excessive Radiation Dose or Inadequate Image Quality for Computed Tomography (CT) in Adults

This voluntary reporting period supports hospitals in:

• Assessing workflows
• Improving data capture processes
• Preparing for potential future measure adoption