CMS Requires Payroll-Based Journal, Electronic Staffing Data Submission for Skilled Nursing Facilities

Effective July 1, 2016, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) will be required to submit staffing, time and attendance information electronically to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) via their Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system.

These requirements originate from section 6106 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and the final rule requires facilities to submit direct care staffing information, in a uniform and auditable format, at least quarterly. Early implementation is allowed; the CMS has been accepting electronic PBJ submissions since October 2015.