Multi-Payer Alignment to Strengthen Hospital Safety
Preventable harm in hospitals remains a critical challenge for patient safety and health care affordability across California. For several years, five of the state’s major health plans have collaborated on a shared hospital safety strategy. Beginning in 2026, this effort formally launches as the California Hospital and Multi-Payer Partnership (CHAMP), establishing a structured, long-term framework for multi-payer alignment.
A Coordinated Approach to Accountability
CQC now serves as the neutral convener and operational backbone, formalizing governance, coordinating engagement and reinforcing accountability across partners. CHAMP focuses on a targeted set of high-impact measures, including hospital-acquired infections, sepsis management, NTSV C-section rates, readmissions and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. Aligning around these priorities replaces fragmented reporting with a unified approach to hospital engagement and performance improvement.
Through regular review of performance data and ongoing follow-through, CHAMP reinforces a coordinated commitment to safer, higher-value care across California.
CQC Shaping Patient Engagement Measurement and Data Exchange in California and Nationally
Peter Robertson, CQC's Senior Director of Practice Transformation, will lead the opening session at the California Primary Care Association’s Quality & Technology Conference on advancing bi-directional data exchange in Los Angeles, alongside leaders from Health Net and Health Care LA, IPA.
At the national level, Robertson is serving as an advisory partner in NCQA’s Measuring Patient Engagement Learning Collaborative, contributing to the development of standards that integrate patient engagement into condition management and digital quality programs.
Advancing Multi-payer Alignment for Primary Care Investment
The California Health Care Foundation’s report, “Strengthening California’s Primary Care Team Workforce: Data and Recommendations for Action,” calls for increased primary care investment and expanded adoption of value-based payment models to strengthen workforce sustainability.
The report highlights the California Advanced Primary Care Initiative, a joint effort of CQC and the Integrated Healthcare Association, as an example of multi-payer alignment advancing these priorities through standardized reporting, performance-based payment and increased primary care investment without raising total costs of care. It also references progress through the Payment Model Demonstration Project as part of this coordinated effort.
Upcoming Events
March 4 | Connecting for Better Health Annual Dinner
Sacramento | CQC Sponsorship | Register
March 17-18 | California Primary Care Association Quality & Technology Conference - Opening Session: Best Practices in Bi-Directional Data Exchange
Orange County | Featuring Peter Robertson, CQC | Register
April 2 | CQC Improvement Coaching Workshop
Los Angeles | Register
April 22-23 | CQC Catalyst for Health 2026
Sacramento | Register
Sept. 16-17 | CQC BHI Health Care Leadership Summit 2026
San Diego | Register
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