P&P, Paid & Penalized

Public Medicare data, made visible.

HospitalSterling Regional Medcenter Estimated FY2026 net: +$35K×

Hospital record · FY2026CCN 060076

1Hospital

Sterling Regional Medcenter

2Location

Sterling, CO (Colorado’s hospitals on the map and in the table) 80751

Logan County

3Type

Not a teaching hospital · 25 beds · Nonprofit · Rural · Sole community hospital

4Care Compare stars

3 of 5 stars

Overall rating, CMS Care Compare data of July 22, 2026
Open on Care Compare (opens in a new tab)

5Total HAC Score

−0.8538

As CMS reports it

6Payment reduction

No cut
CMS’s value: No

7Estimated cut

$0
A cut would have been $48K, likely $35⁠–⁠54K estimate

No cut

$0

from this program

For fiscal year 2026, CMS reports a Total HAC Score of −0.8538 for Sterling Regional Medcenter and a payment reduction decision of No.

A cut would have taken about $48K estimate 1% of about $4.8M, this site’s estimate of what traditional Medicare pays it for inpatient stays in a year. Its score was 1.2337 under 0.3799, the lowest score CMS cut.

Likely range $35–54K

Its score was at or below CMS’s line, so this program did not cut its Medicare payments for the year. The score compares hospitals with each other; it is not a grade of the quality of care.

CMS cut scores of 0.3799 and above.

Each year CMS cuts the hospitals with the highest quarter of scores, those above the 75th percentile, so the line moves with other hospitals’ scores.

highest 2.3133 1% cut Middle hospital: −0.0453 Middle hospital−0.0453 CMS’s line: 0.3799 and up CMS’s line0.3799 and up This hospital: −0.8538 This hospital −0.8538 highest 2.3133 1% cut Middle hospital: −0.0453 Middle hospital−0.0453 CMS’s line: 0.3799 and up CMS’s line0.3799 and up This hospital: −0.8538 This hospital −0.8538

Higher than 6% of the other 2,928 scores CMS published (higher is worse).

Its record, fiscal years 2015 to 2026 Cut in 5 of 11 years

  1. 15Cut
  2. 16Cut
  3. 17No
  4. 18Cut
  5. 19Cut
  6. 20Cut
  7. 21No
  8. 22No
  9. 23—
  10. 24No
  11. 25No
  12. 26No

Where the score came from

CMS scored this hospital on 2 of the 6 measures. On every measure a lower value is better. Each row puts the hospital among every hospital with a value: the gray columns are those hospitals, the tall tick is the national median, and the hatched ends score the same as CMS’s floor or cap.

None of the measures CMS scored it on is above the national median, so no single measure at the median would lower its score.

Figure 1. Of its 2 measures with a value, this hospital is above the national median on 0.
  • This hospital
  • National median
  • Scores the same as CMS’s floor or cap
  1. PSI 90 (what it counts)

    Safety problems such as serious bedsores, falls that break a bone and blood clots after surgery, found by CMS in traditional Medicare claims. A value of 1 matches the national composite value.

    Patient safety and adverse events composite

    Better than 53% of the other 2,808 hospitals

    estimate

    This site recomputes this measure’s z‑score from CMS’s published value. The recompute can differ from CMS’s z‑score by up to 0.0021. How this site estimates

    CMS value0.9533

    Z-score−0.2454

    Part of score−0.1227

  2. CLABSI (what it counts)

    Bloodstream infections tied to a central line, a tube often placed in a large vein in the neck, chest or groin. Hospitals report them to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. A value of 1.0 means as many infections as the CDC’s model predicted.

    Central line–associated bloodstream infections

    Not scored on this measure

    CMS footnote 13: Results cannot be calculated for this reporting period.

    CMS footnote 5: Results are not available for this reporting period.

    CMS valueno value published

    Z-scoreno value published

    Part of scoreno value published

  3. CAUTI (what it counts)

    Urinary tract infections that start from a urinary catheter, a tube that drains the bladder. Hospitals report them to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. A value of 1.0 means as many infections as the CDC’s model predicted.

    Catheter-associated urinary tract infections

    Not scored on this measure

    CMS footnote 13: Results cannot be calculated for this reporting period.

    CMS footnote 5: Results are not available for this reporting period.

    CMS valueno value published

    Z-scoreno value published

    Part of scoreno value published

  4. SSI (what it counts)

    Deep infections at the site of colon surgery or an abdominal hysterectomy, within a month of the operation, pooled into one measure. Hospitals report them to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. A value of 1.0 means as many infections as the CDC’s model predicted.

    Surgical site infections after colon surgery or abdominal hysterectomy

    Not scored on this measure

    CMS footnote 13: Results cannot be calculated for this reporting period.

    CMS footnote 5: Results are not available for this reporting period.

    CMS valueno value published

    Z-scoreno value published

    Part of scoreno value published

  5. CDI (what it counts)

    C. diff infections, which cause diarrhea and inflammation of the colon, found by a lab test and starting in the hospital. Hospitals report them to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. A value of 1.0 means as many infections as the CDC’s model predicted.

    Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections

    Better than 91% of the other 2,766 hospitals

    estimate

    This site recomputes this measure’s z‑score from CMS’s published value. The recompute can differ from CMS’s z‑score by up to 0.0071. How this site estimates

    CMS value0.000

    Z-score−1.4622

    Part of score−0.7311

  6. MRSA (what it counts)

    Bloodstream infections with MRSA, a germ that resists several antibiotics, found by a lab test and starting in the hospital. Hospitals report them to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. A value of 1.0 means as many infections as the CDC’s model predicted.

    MRSA bloodstream infections

    Not scored on this measure

    CMS footnote 13: Results cannot be calculated for this reporting period.

    CMS footnote 5: Results are not available for this reporting period.

    CMS valueno value published

    Z-scoreno value published

    Part of scoreno value published

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.

Show table
MeasureCMS valueNational medianZ-scorePart of the scoreAmong hospitals
PSI 900.95330.9623−0.2454−0.1227Better than 53% of the other 2,808 hospitals
CLABSIno value published0.559no value publishedno value publishedNot scored on this measure
CAUTIno value published0.489no value publishedno value publishedNot scored on this measure
SSIno value published0.795no value publishedno value publishedNot scored on this measure
CDI0.0000.346−1.4622−0.7311Better than 91% of the other 2,766 hospitals
MRSAno value published0.641no value publishedno value publishedNot scored on this measure

How the parts add up

CMS adds the z‑scores and divides by the number of measures scored, so each measure counts the same. Each bar below is one z‑score divided by 2; a bar right of zero raised the score and one left of zero lowered it.

(−0.2454PSI 90−1.4622CDI)÷2measures=−0.8538Total HAC Score

Added from the rounded z‑scores CMS published, the parts make −0.8538; CMS reports −0.8538. The small difference is rounding.

This hospital’s score is 1.2337 below 0.3799, the lowest score CMS marked Yes. (This site recomputes.)

Figure 2. The parts add up to −0.8538, below CMS’s line.
1% cut PSI 90: z‑score −0.2454 divided by 2 = −0.1227PSI 90−0.1227 CDI: z‑score −1.4622 divided by 2 = −0.7311CDI−0.7311 Total HAC Score: −0.8538Score−0.8538 CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799 CMS’s line −1.0−0.50.00.5 1% cut PSI 90: z‑score −0.2454 divided by 2 = −0.1227PSI 90−0.1227 CDI: z‑score −1.4622 divided by 2 = −0.7311CDI−0.7311 Total HAC Score: −0.8538Score−0.8538 CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799 CMS’s line −1.0−0.50.00.5

This site recomputes · Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.

Show table
MeasureZ-scorePart of the scoreRunning total
PSI 90−0.2454−0.1227−0.1227
CDI−1.4622−0.7311−0.8538
Total HAC Score−0.8538
CMS’s line0.37920.3799

The money is a cliff

This program’s cut doesn’t grow with the score. Over CMS’s line, CMS cuts 1% of what traditional Medicare pays a hospital for inpatient stays that year; at or under the line, this program cuts nothing.

The chart draws what the cut would be for this hospital at any Total HAC Score, from this site’s estimate of its payments, with its own score marked.

Figure 3. The cut is a cliff, not a slope: this hospital’s score, 1.2337 under the lowest score CMS cut, costs it nothing; 1.2337 higher, the cut would have been about $48K by this site’s estimate, the same as at CMS’s highest score, 2.3133.
CMS’s line $0 at any score up to 0.3792 $48K at any score from 0.3799 $0at any score up to 0.3792 $48K at any score from 0.3799 −1012 CMS’s highest score: 2.3133 CMS’s highest score 2.3133 This hospital: −0.8538 This hospital −0.8538 CMS’s line $0 at any score up to 0.3792 $48K at any score from 0.3799 $0at any score up to 0.3792 $48Kat any score from 0.3799 −1.0−0.50.00.51.01.52.0 CMS’s highest score: 2.3133 CMS’s highest score 2.3133 This hospital: −0.8538 This hospital −0.8538

Under the axis, every Total HAC Score CMS published: 306 of the 2,929 scored within 0.1 of CMS’s line, on one side or the other.

Estimate · Source: this site’s arithmetic on CMS’s FY2026 IPPS final rule files (the impact file, the rate tables and the value-based factors), its FY2026 HRRP supplemental file and HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.

Show table
ScoreTotal HAC ScoreEstimated HAC cut (whole dollars)
Any score up to 0.37920.3792$0
Any score from 0.37990.3799−$48,211
This hospital−0.8538$0
CMS’s highest score2.3133−$48,211

The money, line by line

This site estimates what traditional Medicare pays the hospital for a year of inpatient stays, from CMS’s FY2026 payment files, then applies Medicare’s three hospital quality programs: the readmissions and value-based adjustments to the base payment, and the HAC cut last, as the law sets.

The readmissions and value-based programs adjust only the base payment: the DRG rates times the hospital’s cases, and a Medicare-dependent hospital’s add-on. The HAC cut comes last and takes 1% of everything left, teaching, low-income-patient, outlier, capital and uncompensated care payments included.

($4,786,515payment−$4,300readmissions+$38,911value-based)×1%the cut=$48,211at stake

$48,211at stake÷282traditional Medicare stays=$171per traditional Medicare stay

Figure 4. No HAC cut this year; 1% of the hospital’s whole inpatient payment would have been about $48K by this site’s estimate. The readmissions and value-based adjustments, on the base alone, came to −$4K and +$39K.

Estimated Medicare inpatient payments · FY2026 estimate

What traditional Medicare pays it for inpatient stays
DRG payments at the federal rates the base $2,687,225
Many low-income patients (disproportionate share) $80,617
Outliers: unusually costly stays $48,074
Sole community hospital rate difference $897,365
Low-volume adjustment $861,192
Capital: buildings and equipment $212,042
Total, before the three programs $4,786,515
The three programs: two on the base, the HAC cut last
Readmissions (HRRP) base × (0.9984 − 1) −$4,300
Value-based purchasing (HVBP) base × (1.0145 − 1) +$38,911
After these two $4,821,126
HAC Reduction Program no cut; 1% would have been $48,211 $0
Net of the three programs likely $24⁠–⁠37K +$34,611

Not paid to this hospital: a Medicare-dependent hospital add-on, teaching payments, and uncompensated care payments.

Whole dollars, so every line adds up; the estimate is not that precise. Each likely range spans the middle 80% of the misses this site’s estimate made for similar hospitals (or for a wider group, where there were too few) when it was checked against their FY2024 cost reports: one year’s check, not a promise of how often a hospital’s actual figure lands inside.

Estimate · Source: this site’s arithmetic on CMS’s FY2026 IPPS final rule files (the impact file, the rate tables and the value-based factors), its FY2026 HRRP supplemental file and HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.

Show table
LineAmount (whole dollars)
DRG payments at the federal rates (the base)$2,687,225
Many low-income patients (disproportionate share)$80,617
Outliers: unusually costly stays$48,074
Sole community hospital rate difference$897,365
Low-volume adjustment$861,192
Capital: buildings and equipment$212,042
Total, before the three programs$4,786,515
Readmissions (HRRP) (base × (0.9984 − 1))−$4,300
Value-based purchasing (HVBP) (base × (1.0145 − 1))+$38,911
After these two$4,821,126
HAC Reduction Program (no cut; 1% would have been $48,211)$0
Net of the three programs (likely $24–37K)+$34,611

What if a measure were different?

Change a measure’s value to see how this site recomputes the Total HAC Score, the payment reduction decision and, by its estimate, the money, starting from CMS’s values. The money doesn’t slide with the score: it drops off a cliff at CMS’s line.

The what-if needs JavaScript. Without it, the values below stay as they are.

Show table
CMS reportsHypothetical
Total HAC Score−0.8538same
Payment reduction decisionNosame
Payment cut0%same
Estimated HAC cut estimate$0same

CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799

The faint ticks are CMS’s line in earlier years under the same formula, from about 0.300 (FY2022) to about 0.375 (FY2024). The line moves every year, so a hospital can cross it without changing anything.

CMS reports a Total HAC Score of −0.8538 and a payment reduction decision of No.

A what-if shows the formula’s arithmetic, not what a hospital could realistically change or how. CMS’s real result also depends on other hospitals.

How much cushion?

Staying at or under CMS’s line keeps about $48K out of this program’s cut, this site estimates: a score a hair over would cost all of it.

From CMS’s values, one measure at a time, with every other measure held at CMS’s value.

MeasureHighest value that keeps No
PSI 90up to 1.3064
CDIup to 0.636

Each measure weighs 1 ÷ 2 of the score.

Measure values

SIR 1.0 = as many infections as predicted · Lower is better

On each track the tick is the national median; shaded values score the same as the floor or cap, as this site fits them to CMS’s values.

CMS 0.9533 · median 0.9623 · floor 0.7760 · cap 1.3482 · each 0.1 = 0.3491

CMS 0.000 · median 0.346 · cap 0.944 · each 0.1 = 0.1936

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Figure 5. Each bar is one measure’s part of this hospital’s Total HAC Score of −0.8538: its z‑score divided by 2, the number of measures scored.
  • PSI 90 −0.1227
  • CDI −0.7311

A measure adds its z‑score divided by 2, the number of measures scored. Bars right of the center line raise the score. Hatched: assigned by CMS.

This site recomputes · Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.

Show table
MeasureZ-scorePart of the scoreHypothetical
PSI 90−0.2454−0.1227same
CDI−1.4622−0.7311same

Interactive what-if at https://paidandpenalized.org/hacrp/hospital/060076/

Among hospitals with a Yes or No payment decision, CMS cut those with a published Total HAC Score of 0.3799 or higher and none at 0.3792 or lower. Maryland’s hospitals are scored but not subject to the reduction.

Held fixed: every other hospital’s results, CMS’s line, and each measure’s mean, spread, floor and cap as this site fits them to CMS’s published values.

Year by year

Where this hospital’s score fell among every hospital’s, each year CMS published one. A score near the top is among the highest; the shaded band is where CMS cut. Places compare across years even where CMS changed how it builds the score.

Its longest run: cut 3 years in a row.

Figure 6. CMS cut this hospital in 5 of the 11 years it made a decision.
highest middle lowest z‑scoresequal weights no scores FY2015: score 8.0000, higher than 88% of scores; cutFY2016: score 10.0000, higher than 99% of scores; cutFY2017: score 4.6000, higher than 35% of scores; not cutFY2018: score 1.5092, higher than 97% of scores; cutFY2019: score 1.6985, higher than 98% of scores; cutFY2020: score 0.4297, higher than 79% of scores; cutFY2021: score −1.1453, higher than 2% of scores; not cutFY2022: score −0.5239, higher than 18% of scores; not cutFY2024: score −0.2585, higher than 34% of scores; not cutFY2025: score −0.9085, higher than 5% of scores; not cutFY2026: score −0.8538, higher than 6% of scores; not cut 161820222426 highest middle lowest z‑scoresequal weights no scores FY2015: score 8.0000, higher than 88% of scores; cutFY2016: score 10.0000, higher than 99% of scores; cutFY2017: score 4.6000, higher than 35% of scores; not cutFY2018: score 1.5092, higher than 97% of scores; cutFY2019: score 1.6985, higher than 98% of scores; cutFY2020: score 0.4297, higher than 79% of scores; cutFY2021: score −1.1453, higher than 2% of scores; not cutFY2022: score −0.5239, higher than 18% of scores; not cutFY2024: score −0.2585, higher than 34% of scores; not cutFY2025: score −0.9085, higher than 5% of scores; not cutFY2026: score −0.8538, higher than 6% of scores; not cut 151617181920212223242526

● Red: a year CMS cut it ○ Hollow: a year it didn’t

This site recomputes · Source: CMS, HACRP hospital files for fiscal years 2015 to 2026 (Provider Data Catalog, its archives and, for the oldest years, the Internet Archive’s copies), and CMS’s cut lists for FY2015 and FY2016.

Show table
Fiscal yearTotal HAC ScoreHigher than this share of scoresPayment reduction
FY20158.000088.5%cut
FY201610.000099.6%cut
FY20174.600035.1%not cut
FY20181.509297.3%cut
FY20191.698598.5%cut
FY20200.429779.9%cut
FY2021−1.14532.3%not cut
FY2022−0.523918.8%not cut
FY2023no decision
FY2024−0.258534.5%not cut
FY2025−0.90855.9%not cut
FY2026−0.85386.8%not cut

Among hospitals like it

Each row is a group this hospital belongs to, drawn from every hospital in it with a payment decision. Red columns are hospitals past CMS’s line, the ones CMS cut; the short tick is the group’s middle score.

In Colorado, its score is higher than 4% of the other 48 scored there.

Figure 7. Its score is below the middle in all 7 groups it belongs to; the share cut runs from 14% (Colorado) to 32% (Rural).
All hospitals: CMS cut 718 of 2,886 (25%); middle score −0.0453All hospitals 2,886 hospitals25% cut West region: CMS cut 157 of 593 (26%); middle score −0.0302West region 593 hospitals26% cut Colorado: CMS cut 7 of 49 (14%); middle score −0.1239Colorado 49 hospitals14% cut Not teaching: CMS cut 389 of 1,563 (25%); middle score −0.1053Not teaching 1,563 hospitals25% cut Fewer than 100 beds: CMS cut 225 of 805 (28%); middle score −0.1154Fewer than 100 beds 805 hospitals28% cut Nonprofit: CMS cut 478 of 1,830 (26%); middle score −0.0134Nonprofit 1,830 hospitals26% cut Rural: CMS cut 196 of 619 (32%); middle score 0.0229Rural 619 hospitals32% cut CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799 CMS’s line −1012 This hospital: −0.8538 This hospital −0.8538 All hospitals: CMS cut 718 of 2,886 (25%); middle score −0.0453All hospitals2,886 hospitals25% cut West region: CMS cut 157 of 593 (26%); middle score −0.0302West region593 hospitals26% cut Colorado: CMS cut 7 of 49 (14%); middle score −0.1239Colorado49 hospitals14% cut Not teaching: CMS cut 389 of 1,563 (25%); middle score −0.1053Not teaching1,563 hospitals25% cut Fewer than 100 beds: CMS cut 225 of 805 (28%); middle score −0.1154Fewer than 100 beds805 hospitals28% cut Nonprofit: CMS cut 478 of 1,830 (26%); middle score −0.0134Nonprofit1,830 hospitals26% cut Rural: CMS cut 196 of 619 (32%); middle score 0.0229Rural619 hospitals32% cut CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799 CMS’s line −1.5−1.0−0.50.00.51.01.52.0 This hospital: −0.8538 This hospital −0.8538

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.

Show table
GroupWith a decisionHospitals cutShare cutMiddle scoreHospital higher than
All hospitals2,88671825%−0.04536%
West region59315726%−0.03026%
Colorado49714%−0.12394%
Not teaching1,56338925%−0.10539%
Fewer than 100 beds80522528%−0.115412%
Nonprofit1,83047826%−0.01344%
Rural61919632%0.02297%
This hospital−0.8538
CMS’s line0.37920.3799

The nearest hospitals

The 8 closest hospitals with a Total HAC Score, in a straight line. The squares are each hospital’s measures in order: filled, above the national median; open, at or below it; hatched, assigned by CMS; blank, not scored.

Figure 8. CMS cut 2 of the 8 nearest hospitals; the closest is 39 miles away.
10 mi25 mi50 mi8. Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins: score −0.4561, not cut, 96 miles87. Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital, Brighton: score −0.4367, not cut, 95 miles76. Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, Fort Collins: score 0.2054, not cut, 94 miles65. Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Cheyenne: score −0.1519, not cut, 91 miles54. Regional West Medical Center, Scottsbluff: score 0.2363, not cut, 91 miles43. UCHealth Greeley Hospital, Greeley: score 1.1260, cut, 84 miles32. Banner North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley: score 0.2318, not cut, 78 miles21. St Elizabeth Hospital, Fort Morgan: score 1.0406, cut, 39 miles1This hospital: Sterling Regional Medcenter

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.

Show table
HospitalMilesScoreDecision
St Elizabeth Hospital, Fort Morgan, CO391.0406cut
Banner North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, CO780.2318not cut
UCHealth Greeley Hospital, Greeley, CO841.1260cut
Regional West Medical Center, Scottsbluff, NE910.2363not cut
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY91−0.1519not cut
Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, Fort Collins, CO940.2054not cut
Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital, Brighton, CO95−0.4367not cut
Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins, CO96−0.4561not cut

#HospitalMilesScoreDecisionEst. cut ($, modeled)Measures
1St Elizabeth HospitalFort Morgan, CO391.04061% cut$35KAbove the national median on 2 of 2 measures
2Banner North Colorado Medical CenterGreeley, CO780.2318No cut$0Above the national median on 3 of 6 measures
3UCHealth Greeley HospitalGreeley, CO841.12601% cut$157KAbove the national median on 5 of 6 measures
4Regional West Medical CenterScottsbluff, NE910.2363No cut$0Above the national median on 5 of 6 measures
5Cheyenne Regional Medical CenterCheyenne, WY91−0.1519No cut$0Above the national median on 3 of 6 measures
6Banner Fort Collins Medical CenterFort Collins, CO940.2054No cut$0Above the national median on 2 of 3 measures
7Intermountain Health Platte Valley HospitalBrighton, CO95−0.4367No cut$0Above the national median on 2 of 6 measures
8Poudre Valley HospitalFort Collins, CO96−0.4561No cut$0Above the national median on 1 of 6 measures

Download all hospitals’ data (CSV) · Data dictionary · CMS’s dataset page

CMS’s footnotes on this page

13
Results cannot be calculated for this reporting period.
5
Results are not available for this reporting period.

How the program works, and how to find another hospital

A penalty reflects how CMS’s formula scored relative performance; it is not a verdict on the quality of care.

Cite this page

Paid & Penalized. Sterling Regional Medcenter, Sterling, CO: Hospital-Acquired Conditions, FY2026. https://paidandpenalized.org/hacrp/hospital/060076/. Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.