Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs)
Definition
Hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) are harms a patient develops during a hospital stay that were not present on admission, such as infections, pressure injuries, falls and blood clots after surgery. Medicare reduces payments to hospitals with the highest HAC rates, so reducing them is both a quality and a financial priority for hospital leaders.
HACs were not present when the patient was admitted, so they often point to gaps in the quality of care. They make patients sicker, lengthen stays and raise costs, which is why CMS ties hospital payments to them.
What are common examples of hospital-acquired conditions?
- Infections picked up in the hospital, such as Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) and MRSA
- Surgical site infections after procedures
- Stage III and IV pressure injuries
- Infections linked to central lines and urinary catheters
- Falls and injuries during the stay
- Blood clots after certain surgeries
How does Medicare penalize hospital-acquired conditions?
Under the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, hospitals that rank in the worst-performing quartile on HAC measures, with a Total HAC Score above the 75th percentile, receive a 1% reduction in Medicare payments for all fee-for-service discharges that year (CMS, HAC Reduction Program, as of September 2026).
How can technology help reduce HACs?
Early-warning tools in the EHR flag patients at risk of sepsis, falls or pressure injuries before harm happens. Infection surveillance software tracks cases across units, and analytics show which practices and units need attention. Devices such as safer catheters and pressure-relief surfaces target specific conditions.
What HACs mean for teams selling into healthcare
Because HACs carry a direct payment penalty, patient safety and infection prevention leaders have a clear reason to buy. Sell to the chief quality officer, the CNO, infection prevention and the patient safety team, and show how your product moves the measures CMS scores.