CMS Hospital QAPI Standards 2026

Tuesday, August 18 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Offered Through Partnership with Georgia Hospital Association

OVERVIEW:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) believes that a well-designed and well-maintained Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program can significantly enhance a hospital’s ability to provide high-quality and safe care to its patients and reduce the incidence of medical errors and adverse events throughout the hospital. 
 
In March 2023, CMS issued new interpretive guidelines on assessing a hospital’s QAPI program. This program will discuss the revised CMS hospital QAPI standards and the new applicable interpretive guidelines. There will be a discussion on CMS expectations for hospital leadership and the governing body with respect to oversight and execution of the QAPI.  

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

• Discuss that the governing body and hospital leadership are responsible for the QAPI program, its implementation, and completion.   
• Recall key requirements for a QAPI program that will be reviewed and assessed during a survey. 
• Recite areas that surveyors assess.  
• Explain that CMS surveyors will review policies in place and look for proof of implementation of such policies and procedures. 

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, Compliance Officer, Emergency Department Personnel, Joint Commission Coordinator, Medical Records, Quality Improvement personnel, Risk Manager, Legal Counsel.

SPEAKER:
Laura A. DIxon, BS, JD, RN, CPHRM

Laura A. Dixon served as the director of risk management and patient safety for the Colorado Region of Kaiser Permanente. Prior to joining Kaiser, she served as the director of facility patient safety and risk management and operations for COPIC from 2014 to 2020. In her role, she provided patient safety and risk management consultation and training to facilities, practitioners, and staff in multiple states.
 
Dixon has more than 20 years of clinical experience in acute care facilities, including critical care, coronary care, perioperative services, and pain management. Prior to joining COPIC, she served as the Western region director of patient safety and risk management for The Doctors Company in Napa, California. 
 
As a registered nurse and attorney, Dixon holds a Bachelor of Science from Regis University, RECEP of Denver, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Drake University College of Law, Des Moines, Iowa, and a registered nurse diploma from Saint Luke’s School Professional Nursing, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is licensed to practice law in Colorado and California.

This speaker has no real or perceived conflicts of interest that relate to this presentation.