The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) published an instructional video explaining how hospitals must report equity measures under California law. The video says all licensed general acute care, acute psychiatric, children’s and special hospitals, and hospital systems with at least two facilities must submit annual Hospital Equity Measures (HEM) reports to HCAI by Sept. 30. "These reports are due every September 30 through HCAI's hospital disclosures and compliance system," the narrator states.

HCAI said hospitals may request a single 60-day extension if they cannot meet the deadline. The video framed the program’s purpose as identifying disparities and developing concrete plans to address them: "The goal of the program is simple but critical. Identify and include a plan to address health care disparities affecting vulnerable populations in your community," the narrator said.

Hospitals must analyze and submit data on patient access, quality and outcomes disaggregated by several demographic categories, the video said. Required breakdowns include race and ethnicity, age, sex assigned at birth, preferred language, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expected payer. Hospitals must report two types of measures: structural measures (required of all hospitals) and core quality measures that vary by hospital type.

According to the video, general acute care and special hospitals must report nine core quality measures, psychiatric hospitals report seven, and children's hospitals report two; examples cited include readmission rates and pneumonia mortality rates. HCAI directs hospitals to calculate rate ratios and other analyses to identify the "top 10 widest disparities" in order to prioritize interventions.

Hospitals may submit a supplemental equity report to provide additional context beyond the main HEM report. That supplemental submission constitutes the hospital’s action plan and must include measurable objectives and specific timelines for performance improvements in priority areas such as person-centered care, patient safety and access to care.

The video describes two submission methods: manually entering data into HCAI's online portal or uploading CSV files using HGUIDE templates and formats. It also instructs hospitals to follow California Health and Human Services Agency guidelines for de-identifying data prior to submission.

Upon submission, the portal generates a PDF of the HEM report with plain-language summaries of the data inputs and measures. HCAI requires hospitals to post equity reports on their public websites for transparency while still protecting patients’ personal information under state and federal privacy laws.

The narrator directs hospitals to register primary and secondary contacts in HCAI’s HDC system and to use HCAI templates and resources — manuals, quick-start guides, FAQs and measure submission guides — for help. For additional information the video lists a phone number, (916) 326-3830, and directs viewers to HCAI’s website for resources and updates.

What hospitals need to do next: prepare disaggregated analyses, identify their top 10 disparities, develop measurable objectives and timelines in an action plan, and submit the report through HCAI by Sept. 30 or request a single 60-day extension if necessary.