PBJ technical specifications changed
Our Take: CMS made minor updates to the PBJ data specification for uploaded PBJ files. Users can no longer submit more than 22.5 hours per employee ID. XML files are…
Our Take: CMS updates in June/July included an unfreezing of Five-Star staffing measures, publication of facility ownership data and a revision of Appendix PP around the new Facility Assessment rule. ▼
These updates touch the inputs that determine Five-Star rating, including staffing hours, turnover, MDS coding, and surveyor interpretation.
QSO Memo 25-01-NH and QSO Memo 23-21-NH
Technical Users’ Guide – July 2024
In 2025, the nursing home sector can expect several policy updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Director Evan Shulman said on Tuesday. He highlighted the agency’s work on risk-based surveys to reduce delays and new consumer guides for which the agency is seeking feedback from nursing homes, among other initiatives.
— Skilled Nursing News, October 29, 2024
CMS Releases Updated Appendix PP
CMS published an updated Appendix PP on August 9, 2024 incorporating the revised Facility Assessment rule from QSO-24-13-NH, along with refreshed Critical Element Pathways for Infection Control and Extended Surveys and an updated List of Revised F-tags.
— AHCA/NCAL, August 14, 2024
Meticulous documentation is the name of the game for nursing home operators looking to keep up with Minimum Data Set (MDS) changes and maintaining a good rating in the Five-Star Quality Rating System. This is especially because inaccurate or insufficient data could affect a facility for at least a year in the future.
— Skilled Nursing News, July 24, 2024
Payroll-Based Journal FAQ Updated (July 2024)
CMS refreshed its Electronic Staffing Submission PBJ Frequently Asked Questions document in July 2024, giving operators an updated reference for submission requirements and common questions around PBJ reporting.
— CMS Compliance Group, July 2024
Effective July 31, CMS began posting facility-level MDS data and expanded ownership details on Care Compare, unfroze the three staffing measures it paused in April, implemented the new staffing case-mix adjustment methodology, and extended the turnover “departed” threshold from 60 to 90 days to accommodate FMLA leave.
— McKnight’s Senior Living, July 3, 2024
