In McKnights, Don Feige observes how CMS continues their quest to create a standardized, consistent measure of staffing across the industry by closing loopholes and clarifying gray areas.

In a memo published earlier this week, CMS announced that they will begin posting PBJ public use files for viewing by LTC facilities, stakeholders, and the general public at http://data.cms.gov/ on November 1, 2017.

In McKnights, Don Feige describes some of the trickier parts of the PBJ reporting rules that providers need to either validate or make changes to systems and processes to ensure staffing data is PBJ compliant

Mandatory compliance with the new Centers for Medicare & Medicated Services (CMS) payroll-based journal reporting (PBJ) requirements begins July 1, 2016. Are you prepared? Whether it’s reaching out to your payroll or timekeeping vendors to supply the data, working with internal IT departments, or contacting other IT software companies, it’s critical you find a solution now.

CMS encouraged providers to use the voluntary submission period beginning October 1, 2015 to test their PBJ data submission processes. The mandatory filing period begins July 1, 2016.