Provider PBJ Resources Hub
🛠 For skilled nursing providers, get access to CMS’ PBJ tools and key publications
What PBJ Resources does CMS provide for SNFs?
In various websites, CMS provides detailed instructions and user guides for skilled nursing providers to learn how to report Payroll-Based Journal data. These key resources include:
- Payroll-Based Journal hub including policy updates and the most recent PBJ Policy Manual
- A web based PBJ data submission software tool for direct data input
- Submission data specifications for providers who upload PBJ data in XML files
- CASPER reporting software to verify and analyze the data contained in CMS’ national reporting database once submitting by skilled nursing facilities through the PBJ system
- User access and registration protocols to gain privileges to the CMS systems used for payroll-based journal reporting
Also useful for nursing home providers to review are the:
- State Operations Manual and training containing staffing-related deficiencies which can be cited by state surveyors (inspectors). More recently these surveyors receive PBJ reports to support their inspection activities
- Five Star Quality Rating system specifications and cut-point tables to classify nursing homes into their staffing and overall Five Star ratings tiers
- PBJ Policy Manuals and FAQs
- CMS’ QSO Memorandums for State Survey Agencies
PBJ System Setup, Registration and Operations
Staffing Data Submission Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) main site
The PBJ “hub” where participants access updates and downloads for the payroll-based journal program. Get the latest downloads for these files:
- PBJ Policy Manual
- PBJ Policy Manual FAQ
- PBJ submission data specifications
- and more
CASPER Reporting User's Guide For PBJ Providers
The CASPER Reporting application is CMS’ electronic National Reporting Database. This version of the CASPER User’s Guide is specifically for PBJ Providers.
CASPER reports are to be used by providers to ensure their quarterly PBJ reports are submitted and accurate, as well as to obtain data used in the staffing Five Star calculation by CMS.
Last modified October 18, 2022
PBJ Data Entry System - User Guide and Technical Specifications
The PBJ User Guide covers all functionality within the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) System as well as information regarding how to access the system via the CMSNet Secure Access Service.
Users can learn how to:
- use the PBJ data entry system
- understand error messages
- view a record of changes
- get technical data specifications
Updated April 2020
New PBJ User Registration - CMSNet
All providers must request a CMSNet User ID to access secure CMS sites
- Step 1: Use the CMSNet Online Registration
- Step 2: Use the QIES online User Registration tool to obtain a QIES Submission ID
Recorded Training Sessions for Payroll Based Journal (PBJ)
Access over a dozen Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) recorded training sessions including:
- CMSNet User ID registration
- Installing Juniper software
- QIES User ID registration
- PBJ XML submission process
- Login and facility verification
- Entering employee, staffing and census data
- Retrieving and understanding the Final Validation Report
- Understanding CASPER reports
Time Study (STRIVE)
The Staff Time and Resource Intensity Verification (STRIVE) Project collected staff time and resident clinical information to determine resources needed to care for residents.
Strive data is used when calculated the PBJ-based Staffing Five Star rating. Strive data is the basis for the Case Mix Hours per Resident Day.
Five Star Ratings, Survey and F-Tags
Five-Star Quality Rating System
The Five-Star Quality Rating System helps consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily. This CMS site provides access to the current standards, rating tiers and updates to the Five Star system. For PBJ staffing, key files available include:
- Five Star Technical Users Guide
- Five Star QRS cut point tables
Surveyor training for using PBJ data
Surveyor training enhances the understanding of how staffing and PBJ data is used during survey.
In the training, CMS provides details guidance for the procedure and probes to be used by surveyors, along with examples of how to categorize deficiencies based on levels of severity.
See also this 30 minute video training
Updated June 2022
State Operations Manual
CMS issued a major update to surveyor guidance to strengthen the implementation of the already-in-effect Phases 2 and 3 of the 2016 Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities. The update provides new guidance to surveyors to use PBJ staffing data to identify concerns in:
F725 – Sufficent Nursing Staff
F727 – RN 8 Hours/7 Days/Week, Full-Time Director of Nursing (DON)
F851 – Payroll-Based Journal (failure to submit PBJ report now a deficiency)
Updated June 29, 2022
Publicly Available Payroll-Based Journal Data
PBJ Public Use Files
Information on Payroll-Based Journal staffing submitted by long term care facilities.
Data are presented as one row per work day, for each facility. Datasets include the number of hours that each individual staff member worked, on each day in the quarter.
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