A: In response to healthcare organization feedback, Joint Commission updated the program to focus on critical patient safety areas while reducing the reporting burden by streamlining and tailoring measures based on hospital services. We reduced the number of measures available, focusing on measures that address three priority areas: maternal health, patient safety, and psychiatric hospital care. Additionally, we reduced optionality in the measure set, with fewer reporting requirements overall. The measures included for the 2026 program have strong scientific backing. These measures are either outcome measures or process measures where evidence clearly links the care processes to better patient outcomes. The updated ORYX program requirements will allow hospitals and surveyors to learn from a more robust and representative data set. The standardized ORYX measures closely align with what hospitals already report to CMS or other agencies, resulting in reduced measurement burden and a shared focus on topics that matter. Finally, we are enhancing our data infrastructure, including future updates to our data submission platform and analytics products.

Please review the detailed list of all requirements and measures by organization type for calendar year 2026 via the
2026 ORYX Performance Measurement Reporting Requirements page, or paste the following URL text in your web browser: https://jointcommission-ddsp.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DCS/pages/1030619137

A: No. NHSN group participation will not be required for 2026, though we recognize NHSN as a valuable data source that may be considered for future program requirements. Organizations do not need to take any action. Joint Commission will manage the necessary updates to the NHSN group status on their behalf.

A: Organizations required but unable to submit eCQMs should submit an extenuating circumstance request (ECR) to Joint Commission detailing your circumstances. Effective CY2026, organizations granted an exception for submission of eCQMs will not be required to submit “substitute” chart-abstracted measures. Information on submitting ECRs for CY2026 will be provided when the 2026 platform opens.

A: For CY2026:

Specific to eCQMs: To be considered for an exemption from submitting eCQM data for the CY2026 requirements, all forms must be received at The Joint Commission no later than 30 days prior to the eCQM deadline (The eCQM deadline is March 15th, so ECRs must be received no later than February 15th). In cases of unanticipated events (i.e. natural disasters / data breach), organizations should notify us as soon as they are able.

Specific to chart-abstracted measures: To be considered for an exemption from submitting chart-abstracted data for the CY2026 requirements, requests must be received at Joint Commission no later than thirty (30) days prior to quarter close applicable to the request. In cases of unanticipated events (i.e. natural disasters / data breach), organizations should notify us as soon as they are able.

Effective CY2026, Joint Commission will no longer require organizations to submit substitute measures if they are not able to submit eCQMs. This also applies to organizations with obstetrical services - if they have been granted an ECR from Joint Commission, they will not be required to submit chart-abstracted PC-06 - but may do so if they choose.

No - For any retired measures, organizations will NOT have the opportunity to correct data or enter / re-enter CAM data on retired measures after the 2025 platform closes.

Data submission deadlines are expected to follow the usual quarterly cycle for chart-abstracted measures, and annual submission cycle for eCQMs.

CY2026 Chart-Abstracted Measures (CAM)

CY2026 Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs)

A: Large Hospitals with OB services are required to submit PC-06, and can submit:

• PC-06 as an eCQM for all four quarters (CAM attestation required)

• PC-06 as a chart-abstracted measure for all four quarters

• PC-06 as both an eCQM and chart-abstracted measure for all four quarters

Not at this time; For eCQM data, the annual submission deadline is typically March 15th of the next calendar year. eCQMs may be submitted anytime between when the data submission period opens up (typically around January 1st) until the deadline. As a reminder, eCQMs are currently submitted retrospectively, e.g., CY2026 eCQMs will be due no later than Mar 15, 2027

NOTE: We encourage organizations to submit data well in advance of the deadline in order to have time to troubleshoot and resolve unexpected issues. There are no individual extensions and there is no eCQM retransmission.

A: A link to the specifications for PC-08 can be found on the external Joint Commission website: Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs) | Joint Commission

https://www.jointcommission.org/en-us/knowledge-library/support-center/measurement/electronic-clinical-quality-measures

No, measures will not go away. Please refer to the certification program manuals for program specific performance measurement requirements.