P&P, Paid & Penalized

Public Medicare data, made visible.

HospitalLowell General Hospital Estimated FY2026 net: −$1.9M×

Hospital record · FY2026CCN 220063

1Hospital

Lowell General Hospital

2Location

Lowell, MA (Massachusetts’s hospitals on the map and in the table) 01854

Middlesex County

3Type

Not a teaching hospital · 158 beds · Nonprofit · Urban · Rural referral center

4Care Compare stars

2 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

1.0519

As CMS reports it

6Payment reduction

1% cut
CMS’s value: Yes

7Estimated cut

$735K estimate
Likely $599⁠–⁠799K; about $143 per traditional Medicare stay

Cut 1%

$735K

cut from its FY2026 Medicare inpatient payments, this site estimates estimate

For fiscal year 2026, CMS reports a Total HAC Score of 1.0519 for Lowell General Hospital and a payment reduction decision of Yes.

That is 1% of about $73.5M, this site’s estimate of what traditional Medicare pays it for inpatient stays in a year: about $143 per traditional Medicare stay.

Likely range $599–799K

Its score was above CMS’s line, so CMS cut its Medicare inpatient payments by 1% 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.

lowest −1.4728 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: 1.0519 This hospital 1.0519 lowest −1.4728 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: 1.0519 This hospital 1.0519

Higher than 94% 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. 15No
  2. 16No
  3. 17No
  4. 18No
  5. 19No
  6. 20Cut
  7. 21Cut
  8. 22Cut
  9. 23—
  10. 24No
  11. 25Cut
  12. 26Cut

Where the score came from

CMS scored this hospital on all 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.

Bringing CAUTI down to the national median (0.489) would lower the score the most: by 0.3001, to 0.7518. Try it in the what-if

Figure 1. Of its 6 measures with a value, this hospital is above the national median on 5; SSI added the most to its score.
  • 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

    Worse than 90% 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 value1.2023

    Z-score1.4927

    Part of score+0.2488

  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

    Worse than 91% of the other 2,181 hospitals

    CMS value1.319

    Z-score1.6533

    Part of score+0.2756

  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

    Worse than 91% of the other 2,354 hospitals

    CMS value1.236

    Z-score1.6608

    Part of score+0.2768

  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.

    added the most

    Surgical site infections after colon surgery or abdominal hysterectomy

    Worse than 92% of the other 2,269 hospitals

    CMS value1.844

    Z-score1.7023

    Part of score+0.2837

  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

    Worse than 64% 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 value0.445

    Z-score0.2609

    Part of score+0.0435

  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

    Better than 65% of the other 2,067 hospitals

    CMS value0.478

    Z-score−0.4583

    Part of score−0.0764

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

Show table
MeasureCMS valueNational medianZ-scorePart of the scoreAmong hospitals
PSI 901.20230.96231.4927+0.2488Worse than 90% of the other 2,808 hospitals
CLABSI1.3190.5591.6533+0.2756Worse than 91% of the other 2,181 hospitals
CAUTI1.2360.4891.6608+0.2768Worse than 91% of the other 2,354 hospitals
SSI1.8440.7951.7023+0.2837Worse than 92% of the other 2,269 hospitals
CDI0.4450.3460.2609+0.0435Worse than 64% of the other 2,766 hospitals
MRSA0.4780.641−0.4583−0.0764Better than 65% of the other 2,067 hospitals

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 6; a bar right of zero raised the score and one left of zero lowered it.

(1.4927PSI 90+1.6533CLABSI+1.6608CAUTI+1.7023SSI+0.2609CDI−0.4583MRSA)÷6measures=1.0519Total HAC Score

Added from the rounded z‑scores CMS published, the parts make 1.0520; CMS reports 1.0519. The small difference is rounding.

This hospital’s score is 0.6727 above 0.3792, the highest score CMS marked No. (This site recomputes.)

Figure 2. The parts add up to 1.0519, above CMS’s line.
1% cut PSI 90: z‑score 1.4927 divided by 6 = +0.2488PSI 90+0.2488 CLABSI: z‑score 1.6533 divided by 6 = +0.2756CLABSI+0.2756 CAUTI: z‑score 1.6608 divided by 6 = +0.2768CAUTI+0.2768 SSI: z‑score 1.7023 divided by 6 = +0.2837SSI+0.2837 CDI: z‑score 0.2609 divided by 6 = +0.0435CDI+0.0435 MRSA: z‑score −0.4583 divided by 6 = −0.0764MRSA−0.0764 Total HAC Score: 1.0519Score1.0519 CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799 CMS’s line 0.00.20.40.60.81.01.2 1% cut PSI 90: z‑score 1.4927 divided by 6 = +0.2488PSI 90+0.2488 CLABSI: z‑score 1.6533 divided by 6 = +0.2756CLABSI+0.2756 CAUTI: z‑score 1.6608 divided by 6 = +0.2768CAUTI+0.2768 SSI: z‑score 1.7023 divided by 6 = +0.2837SSI+0.2837 CDI: z‑score 0.2609 divided by 6 = +0.0435CDI+0.0435 MRSA: z‑score −0.4583 divided by 6 = −0.0764MRSA−0.0764 Total HAC Score: 1.0519Score1.0519 CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799 CMS’s line 0.00.20.40.60.81.01.2

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 901.4927+0.24880.2488
CLABSI1.6533+0.27560.5244
CAUTI1.6608+0.27680.8012
SSI1.7023+0.28371.0849
CDI0.2609+0.04351.1284
MRSA−0.4583−0.07641.0520
Total HAC Score1.0519
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, 0.6727 over the highest score CMS didn’t cut, costs it about $735K by this site’s estimate, and at CMS’s highest score, 2.3133, the cut would be the same.
CMS’s line $0 at any score up to 0.3792 $735K at any score from 0.3799 $0at any score up to 0.3792 $735K at any score from 0.3799 −1012 CMS’s highest score: 2.3133 This hospital: 1.0519 This hospital 1.0519 CMS’s line $0 at any score up to 0.3792 $735K at any score from 0.3799 $0at any score up to 0.3792 $735Kat 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: 1.0519 This hospital 1.0519

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−$735,169
This hospital1.0519−$735,169
CMS’s highest score2.3133−$735,169

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.

($74,674,756payment−$644,447readmissions−$513,447value-based)×1%the cut=$735,169HAC cut

$735,169HAC cut÷5,140traditional Medicare stays=$143per traditional Medicare stay

Figure 4. This site estimates the HAC cut at $735K: 1% of the hospital’s whole inpatient payment, taken last. The readmissions and value-based adjustments, on the base alone, came to −$644K and −$513K.

Estimated Medicare inpatient payments · FY2026 estimate

What traditional Medicare pays it for inpatient stays
DRG payments at the federal rates the base $63,806,674
Many low-income patients (disproportionate share) $2,760,915
Outliers: unusually costly stays $555,756
Capital: buildings and equipment $5,353,170
Uncompensated care $2,198,241
Total, before the three programs $74,674,756
The three programs: two on the base, the HAC cut last
Readmissions (HRRP) base × (0.9899 − 1) −$644,447
Value-based purchasing (HVBP) base × (0.9920 − 1) −$513,447
After these two $73,516,862
HAC Reduction Program 1% of everything above; likely $599⁠–⁠799K −$735,169
Net of the three programs likely −$2.1M to −$1.6M −$1,893,063

Not paid to this hospital: a Medicare-dependent hospital add-on, teaching payments, a sole community hospital rate difference, and a low-volume adjustment.

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)$63,806,674
Many low-income patients (disproportionate share)$2,760,915
Outliers: unusually costly stays$555,756
Capital: buildings and equipment$5,353,170
Uncompensated care$2,198,241
Total, before the three programs$74,674,756
Readmissions (HRRP) (base × (0.9899 − 1))−$644,447
Value-based purchasing (HVBP) (base × (0.9920 − 1))−$513,447
After these two$73,516,862
HAC Reduction Program (1% of everything above; likely $599–799K)−$735,169
Net of the three programs (likely −$2.1M to −$1.6M)−$1,893,063

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 Score1.0519same
Payment reduction decisionYessame
Payment cut1%same
Estimated HAC cut estimate$735Ksame

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 1.0519 and a payment reduction decision of Yes.

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.

What would it take?

Getting under CMS’s line would keep about $735K, this site estimates: the whole cut, however far under the score lands.

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

MeasureValue that would read No
PSI 90not possible with this measure alone
CLABSInot possible with this measure alone
CAUTInot possible with this measure alone
SSInot possible with this measure alone
CDInot possible with this measure alone
MRSAnot possible with this measure alone

Each measure weighs 1 ÷ 6 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 1.2023 · median 0.9623 · floor 0.7760 · cap 1.3482 · each 0.1 = 0.1164

CMS 1.319 · median 0.559 · cap 1.572 · each 0.1 = 0.0387

CMS 1.236 · median 0.489 · cap 1.537 · each 0.1 = 0.0402

CMS 1.844 · median 0.795 · cap 2.118 · each 0.1 = 0.0286

CMS 0.445 · median 0.346 · cap 0.944 · each 0.1 = 0.0645

CMS 0.478 · median 0.641 · cap 1.762 · each 0.1 = 0.0348

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Figure 5. SSI added the most to this hospital’s Total HAC Score of 1.0519 among its measured results: +0.2837.
  • PSI 90 +0.2488
  • CLABSI +0.2756
  • CAUTI +0.2768
  • SSI +0.2837
  • CDI +0.0435
  • MRSA −0.0764

A measure adds its z‑score divided by 6, 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 901.4927+0.2488same
CLABSI1.6533+0.2756same
CAUTI1.6608+0.2768same
SSI1.7023+0.2837same
CDI0.2609+0.0435same
MRSA−0.4583−0.0764same

Interactive what-if at https://paidandpenalized.org/hacrp/hospital/220063/

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 3.9250, higher than 23% of scores; not cutFY2016: score 4.5000, higher than 30% of scores; not cutFY2017: score 4.9800, higher than 41% of scores; not cutFY2018: score −0.3379, higher than 29% of scores; not cutFY2019: score −0.0728, higher than 46% of scores; not cutFY2020: score 0.6573, higher than 87% of scores; cutFY2021: score 0.6569, higher than 89% of scores; cutFY2022: score 0.3008, higher than 75% of scores; cutFY2024: score −0.3521, higher than 28% of scores; not cutFY2025: score 0.5194, higher than 82% of scores; cutFY2026: score 1.0519, higher than 94% of scores; cut 161820222426 highest middle lowest z‑scoresequal weights no scores FY2015: score 3.9250, higher than 23% of scores; not cutFY2016: score 4.5000, higher than 30% of scores; not cutFY2017: score 4.9800, higher than 41% of scores; not cutFY2018: score −0.3379, higher than 29% of scores; not cutFY2019: score −0.0728, higher than 46% of scores; not cutFY2020: score 0.6573, higher than 87% of scores; cutFY2021: score 0.6569, higher than 89% of scores; cutFY2022: score 0.3008, higher than 75% of scores; cutFY2024: score −0.3521, higher than 28% of scores; not cutFY2025: score 0.5194, higher than 82% of scores; cutFY2026: score 1.0519, higher than 94% of scores; 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
FY20153.925023.0%not cut
FY20164.500030.4%not cut
FY20174.980041.5%not cut
FY2018−0.337929.0%not cut
FY2019−0.072846.5%not cut
FY20200.657387.9%cut
FY20210.656989.3%cut
FY20220.300875.0%cut
FY2023no decision
FY2024−0.352128.2%not cut
FY20250.519482.1%cut
FY20261.051994.7%cut

Its infections, year by year

This hospital’s infection rate against prediction for each calendar year Care Compare published one, on each measure with at least two years of results (black), over the nation’s middle hospital (gray). Below the dashed line at one, fewer infections than predicted. Each year is measured against the same fixed baseline, not against other hospitals, so unlike the score they can all improve at once.

Figure 7. 4 of its 5 infection measures ended lower than they started.
CLABSI 0.80 → 0.58 1as predicted 0 ’18’21’24 Nation’s middle CLABSI, 2017: 0.798CLABSI, 2018: 2.133CLABSI, 2019: 1.748CLABSI, 2021: 0.695CLABSI, 2022: 0.181CLABSI, 2023: 2.080CLABSI, 2024: 0.579 CAUTI 1.44 → 0.77 1 0 ’18’21’24 CAUTI, 2017: 1.440CAUTI, 2018: 0.977CAUTI, 2019: 0.888CAUTI, 2021: 1.703CAUTI, 2022: 0.880CAUTI, 2023: 1.711CAUTI, 2024: 0.772 SSI, colon 0.33 → 2.61 1 0 ’18’21’24 SSI, colon, 2017: 0.325SSI, colon, 2018: 0.312SSI, colon, 2019: 0.177SSI, colon, 2021: 0.420SSI, colon, 2022: 0.000SSI, colon, 2023: 1.339SSI, colon, 2024: 2.612 MRSA 0.73 → 0.56 1 0 ’18’21’24 MRSA, 2017: 0.733MRSA, 2018: 0.945MRSA, 2019: 0.248MRSA, 2021: 0.238MRSA, 2022: 0.691MRSA, 2023: 0.365MRSA, 2024: 0.565 C. diff 0.64 → 0.58 1 0 ’18’21’24 C. diff, 2017: 0.635C. diff, 2018: 1.313C. diff, 2019: 0.371C. diff, 2021: 0.304C. diff, 2022: 0.619C. diff, 2023: 0.310C. diff, 2024: 0.576 CLABSI 0.80 → 0.58 1as predicted 0 ’18’20’22’24 Nation’s middle CLABSI, 2017: 0.798CLABSI, 2018: 2.133CLABSI, 2019: 1.748CLABSI, 2021: 0.695CLABSI, 2022: 0.181CLABSI, 2023: 2.080CLABSI, 2024: 0.579 CAUTI 1.44 → 0.77 1 0 ’18’20’22’24 CAUTI, 2017: 1.440CAUTI, 2018: 0.977CAUTI, 2019: 0.888CAUTI, 2021: 1.703CAUTI, 2022: 0.880CAUTI, 2023: 1.711CAUTI, 2024: 0.772 SSI, colon 0.33 → 2.61 1 0 ’18’20’22’24 SSI, colon, 2017: 0.325SSI, colon, 2018: 0.312SSI, colon, 2019: 0.177SSI, colon, 2021: 0.420SSI, colon, 2022: 0.000SSI, colon, 2023: 1.339SSI, colon, 2024: 2.612 MRSA 0.73 → 0.56 1 0 ’18’20’22’24 MRSA, 2017: 0.733MRSA, 2018: 0.945MRSA, 2019: 0.248MRSA, 2021: 0.238MRSA, 2022: 0.691MRSA, 2023: 0.365MRSA, 2024: 0.565 C. diff 0.64 → 0.58 1 0 ’18’20’22’24 C. diff, 2017: 0.635C. diff, 2018: 1.313C. diff, 2019: 0.371C. diff, 2021: 0.304C. diff, 2022: 0.619C. diff, 2023: 0.310C. diff, 2024: 0.576

Source: CMS Care Compare, healthcare-associated infections by hospital, calendar years 2017 to 2024 (Provider Data Catalog archives; the oldest year through the Internet Archive’s copy).

Show table
Calendar yearCLABSICAUTISSI, colonMRSAC. diff
20170.7981.4400.3250.7330.635
20182.1330.9770.3120.9451.313
20191.7480.8880.1770.2480.371
20210.6951.7030.4200.2380.304
20220.1810.8800.0000.6910.619
20232.0801.7111.3390.3650.310
20240.5790.7722.6120.5650.576

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 Massachusetts, its score is higher than 94% of the other 51 scored there.

In Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA area, its score is higher than 100% of the other 14 scored there.

Figure 8. Its score is above the middle in all 8 groups it belongs to; the share cut runs from 23% (Urban) to 38% (Massachusetts).
All hospitals: CMS cut 718 of 2,886 (25%); middle score −0.0453All hospitals 2,886 hospitals25% cut Northeast region: CMS cut 124 of 436 (28%); middle score 0.0478Northeast region 436 hospitals28% cut Massachusetts: CMS cut 20 of 52 (38%); middle score 0.2735Massachusetts 52 hospitals38% cut Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA area: CMS cut 5 of 15 (33%); middle score 0.2495Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA area15 hospitals33% cut Not teaching: CMS cut 389 of 1,563 (25%); middle score −0.1053Not teaching 1,563 hospitals25% cut 100 to 299 beds: CMS cut 275 of 1,193 (23%); middle score −0.0732100 to 299 beds 1,193 hospitals23% cut Nonprofit: CMS cut 478 of 1,830 (26%); middle score −0.0134Nonprofit 1,830 hospitals26% cut Urban: CMS cut 510 of 2,241 (23%); middle score −0.0574Urban 2,241 hospitals23% cut CMS’s line: between 0.3792 and 0.3799 CMS’s line −1012 This hospital: 1.0519 This hospital 1.0519 All hospitals: CMS cut 718 of 2,886 (25%); middle score −0.0453All hospitals2,886 hospitals25% cut Northeast region: CMS cut 124 of 436 (28%); middle score 0.0478Northeast region436 hospitals28% cut Massachusetts: CMS cut 20 of 52 (38%); middle score 0.2735Massachusetts52 hospitals38% cut Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA area: CMS cut 5 of 15 (33%); middle score 0.2495Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA area15 hospitals33% cut Not teaching: CMS cut 389 of 1,563 (25%); middle score −0.1053Not teaching1,563 hospitals25% cut 100 to 299 beds: CMS cut 275 of 1,193 (23%); middle score −0.0732100 to 299 beds1,193 hospitals23% cut Nonprofit: CMS cut 478 of 1,830 (26%); middle score −0.0134Nonprofit1,830 hospitals26% cut Urban: CMS cut 510 of 2,241 (23%); middle score −0.0574Urban2,241 hospitals23% 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: 1.0519 This hospital 1.0519

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%−0.045394%
Northeast region43612428%0.047895%
Massachusetts522038%0.273594%
Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA area15533%0.2495100%
Not teaching1,56338925%−0.105393%
100 to 299 beds1,19327523%−0.073296%
Nonprofit1,83047826%−0.013495%
Urban2,24151023%−0.057496%
This hospital1.0519
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 9. CMS cut 1 of the 8 nearest hospitals; the closest is 10 miles away.
5 mi10 mi8. Parkland Medical Center, Derry: score −0.1871, not cut, 16 miles87. Emerson Hospital -, W Concord: score −0.5169, not cut, 13 miles76. Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer: score 0.3424, not cut, 13 miles65. Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, Burlington: score 0.2976, not cut, 12 miles54. Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital, Lawrence: score −0.2448, not cut, 11 miles43. Holy Family Hospital, Methuen: score −0.0166, not cut, 11 miles32. St Joseph Hospital, Nashua: score −0.6098, not cut, 10 miles21. Southern NH Medical Center, Nashua: score 0.3958, cut, 10 miles1This hospital: Lowell General Hospital

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

Show table
HospitalMilesScoreDecision
Southern NH Medical Center, Nashua, NH100.3958cut
St Joseph Hospital, Nashua, NH10−0.6098not cut
Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, MA11−0.0166not cut
Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital, Lawrence, MA11−0.2448not cut
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, Burlington, MA120.2976not cut
Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer, MA130.3424not cut
Emerson Hospital -, W Concord, MA13−0.5169not cut
Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH16−0.1871not cut

#HospitalMilesScoreDecisionEst. cut ($, modeled)Measures
1Southern NH Medical CenterNashua, NH100.39581% cut$312KAbove the national median on 5 of 6 measures
2St Joseph HospitalNashua, NH10−0.6098No cut$0Above the national median on 1 of 6 measures
3Holy Family HospitalMethuen, MA11−0.0166No cut$0Above the national median on 3 of 6 measures
4Merrimack Health Lawrence HospitalLawrence, MA11−0.2448No cut$0Above the national median on 2 of 6 measures
5Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, BurlingtonBurlington, MA120.2976No cut$0Above the national median on 5 of 6 measures
6Nashoba Valley Medical CenterAyer, MA130.3424No cut$0Above the national median on 2 of 2 measures
7Emerson Hospital -W Concord, MA13−0.5169No cut$0Above the national median on 2 of 6 measures
8Parkland Medical CenterDerry, NH16−0.1871No cut$0Above the national median on 2 of 5 measures

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

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. Lowell General Hospital, Lowell, MA: Hospital-Acquired Conditions, FY2026. https://paidandpenalized.org/hacrp/hospital/220063/. Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, HACRP FY2026 (yq43-i98g), released August 13, 2026.