MassHealth Hospital Quality and Equity Incentive Program (HQEIP)

Under the HQEIP, MassHealth’s Acute Hospitals are incentivized to pursue performance improvements in three domains; demographic and health-related social needs data, equitable quality and access, and capacity and collaboration. Acute Hospitals can refer to the resources provided below for information regarding HQEIP implementation, measure specifications, and deliverables templates and timelines.

Implementation Plans & Technical Specifications

The Performance Year (PY) 1-5 Implementation Plan provides information on MassHealth’s HQEIP for the Acute Hospitals from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2027. The PY1 Technical Specifications provides additional details pertaining to the first PY from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023 and the PY2 Technical Specifications provides additional details pertaining to PY2 from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The PY3-5 Technical Specifications and the Performance Assessment Methodology (PAM) Manual provide additional details pertaining to PYs 3-5 from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.

• PY1-5 Implementation Plan for HQEIP & CHA-HQEIP (Updated 1/15/25): PDF | Word
• HQEIP Performance Year 1 Technical Specifications: PDF | Word
• CHA-HQEIP Performance Year 1 Technical Specifications: PDF | Word
• PY2 Technical Specifications for HQEIP (Updated 07/02/2025): PDF | Word
  • PY2 Technical Specifications for HQEIP (Change Log): PDF | Word
• PY2 Technical Specifications for CHA-HQEIP (Updated 07/02/2025): PDF | Word
  • PY2 Technical Specifications for CHA-HQEIP (Change Log): PDF | Word
• PY2 Technical Specifications Addendum (Payer Codes): PDF | Word
• HQEIP Performance Year 3 through 5 Technical Specifications (Updated 05/19/2025): PDF | Word
  • HQEIP Performance Year 3 through 5 Technical Specifications (Change Log): PDF | Word
• CHA-HQEIP Performance Year 3 through 5 Technical Specifications (Updated 05/19/2025): PDF | Word
  • CHA-HQEIP Performance Year 3 through 5 Technical Specifications (Change Log): PDF | Word
• PY3-5 Performance Assessment Methodology (PAM) Manual for HQEIP (Updated 5/19/2025): PDF | Word
• PY3-5 Performance Assessment Methodology (PAM) Manual for CHA-HQEIP (Updated 5/19/2025): PDF | Word

Performance Year 1 Deliverables and Due Dates

Please find the most up-to-date program deliverables templates, instructions documents, and due dates below. This page will be updated regularly as additional program documents become available.

• Performance Year 1 Deliverables Timeline and Due Dates (Updated 03/27/2024): PDF | Word
• RELDSOGI & HRSN Assessment: Zip
• HRSN Screening Tools & Plan: PDF | Word
  • Version for CHA only: PDF | Word
• PIPs: Hospital Key Personnel/Institutional Resources Document: PDF | Word
• PIPs: Equity Improvement Intervention Partnership Form: PDF | Word
• PIPs: Mid-Year Planning Report: PDF | Word
• PIPs: Planning (Baseline) Report: Zip
• Language Services Attestation Form: PDF | Word
• Language Access Self-Assessment Survey: PDF | Word
• Disability Accommodation Needs Report: PDF | Word
• Disability Competency Self-Assessment: Zip
• Disability Competency Training Plan: PDF | Word
• TJC Health Care Equity Report: PDF | Word
• HCAHPS Survey Submission Instructions (Updated 7/2/24): PDF | Word
• HQEIP Participation and Collaboration Attestation: PDF | Word
• Joint Accountability ACO Collaboration Form: PDF | Word
• Health Quality and Equity Strategic Plan: PDF | Word
  • Version for CHA only: PDF | Word 
• Stratified Reporting of Quality Data: PDF | Word
  • Version for CHA only: PDF | Word

Performance Year 2 Deliverables and Due Dates

Please find the most up-to-date program deliverables templates, instructions, documents, and due dates for Performance Year 2 below. This page will be updated regularly as additional program documents become available.

• Performance Year 2 Deliverables and Due Dates (Updated 10/11/2024): PDF | Word
• HCAHPS Survey Report (updated 12/2/24): PDF | Word
  • Version for CHA only: PDF | Word
• PIP 2 Guidance and Mid-Year Planning Report (Updated 10/11/2024): PDF | Word
• Health Quality and Equity Strategic Plan (Updated 10/11/2024): PDF | Word
  • Version for CHA only: PDF | Word
• Hospital RELD SOGI Data Mapping: XLS
• Language Access Self-Assessment Survey (Updated 12/2/24): PDF | Word
  • Language Access Self-Assessment Survey Appendix (Updated 11/20/24): PDF | Word
• Disability Competent Care Training Report: PDF | Word
• Disability Accommodations Needs Report: PDF | Word
• The Joint Commission (TJC) Health Care Equity (HCE) Certification Progress Report: PDF | Word
• Stratified Performance Report (Updated 10/7/24): PDF | Word
  • Version for CHA only: PDF | Word

Performance Year 3 Deliverables and Due Dates

Please find the most up-to-date program deliverables templates, instructions documents, and due dates for Performance Year 3 below. This page will be updated regularly as additional program documents become available. 

• Performance Year 3 Deliverables and Due Dates (Updated 02/04/2025): PDF | Word
• Joint Accountability ACO Collaboration Form (Updated 3/4/2025): PDF | Word
• Health Quality and Equity Strategic Plan: PDF | Word
  • Version for CHA only: PDF | Word

Notices and Memorandums

• MEMO: Criteria for Approval: PDF | Word

OnBase Reporting System

As part of the HQEIP, Acute Hospitals will submit narrative deliverables (unless otherwise specified) via OnBase. To request access to the OnBase system, please email [e-mail]. Existing OnBase users can login here

• MassHealth can provide additional guidance on how to use and register for OnBase. Please email [e-mail] to request this information.

CQMV Portal Reporting System

As part of the HQEIP, Hospitals will submit quantitative data (unless otherwise specified) via MassQEX. Access the MassQEX portal to login or register.

For technical assistance or questions regarding registration please contact the QEIP Help Desk at: [e-mail].

• Additional detail related to the MassQEX, registration, and file upload is available in the QEIP User Guide: PDF | Word

The Supplemental File Formats for uploading quantitative data to the portal can be found below:

• HRSN Supplemental File Format (Updated May 2025): XLS
• Language Access Supplemental File Format (Updated May 2025): XLS
• Disability Accommodation Needs Supplemental File Format (Updated May 2025): XLS

Questions?

Reach out to: [e-mail]

Date published:	January 3, 2024
Last updated:	July 23, 2025