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 issued memo announced updates to Nursing Home Care Compare staffing ratings and quality measures driven by the MDS transition from Section G to GG. Updates to the case-mix methodology came in October 2024. SNFs that fail to submit accurate PBJ staffing data will receive the lowest possible score on turnover measures beginning with the April 2024 Care Compare refresh. ▼
These changes require SNFs to ensure PBJ submissions are accurate and complete before the April 2024 Care Compare update, as missing or erroneous data will now directly penalize staffing turnover scores rather than suppress them.
Facilities should also prepare for temporary freezes to staffing ratings and four MDS-linked quality measures as CMS transitions case-mix adjustment methodology from RUG-IV to PDPM.
Updates to Nursing Home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures
Adjustment to Staffing and Quality Measures: CMS will update the staffing level case-mix adjustment methodology and replace some of the Quality Measures (QMs) used on Nursing Home Care Compare, in order to accommodate changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Additionally, CMS will discontinue the CMS-672 form since the section G MDS data, used to populate this form, is being eliminated. Penalty for Providers that Fail to Submit Staffing Data: To incentivize providers to submit accurate staffing data, CMS will revise the staffing rating methodology so providers that fail to submit staffing data or submit erroneous data receive the lowest score possible for corresponding staffing turnover measures.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Updates to Nursing Home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures.” CMS.gov, 20 Sept. 2023, www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/policy-memos-states/updates-nursing-home-care-compare-staffing-and-quality-measures.
QSO Memo 25-01-NH and QSO Memo 23-21-NH
Technical Users’ Guide – September 2023
CMS Updates Nursing Home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures
Beginning in April 2024, CMS will revise the staffing rating methodology so providers that fail to submit staffing data or submit erroneous data receive the lowest score possible on the corresponding staff turnover measures. The PBJ-based turnover measures require six consecutive quarters of data. Currently, nursing homes that fail to submit data to calculate staff turnover have their staff turnover measures excluded from the staffing rating calculation.
— AHCA/NCAL, September 21, 2023
CMS Posts Updates to Nursing Home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted memo QSO-23-21-NH describing updates to the staffing level case-mix adjustment methodology and quality measures used in the Nursing Home Care Compare Five Star Quality Rating System. These updates are in order to accommodate changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) that will take effect October 1, 2023. Additionally, CMS will be discontinuing the CMS-672 form and transferring the non-MDS-related items (e.g., census information) to the CMS-671 form. Please review the memo for more details.
— Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, September 21, 2023. Link no longer available.
CMS Outlines Changes Coming to Staffing and Quality Measures
CMS has announced changes to the staffing and quality measures displayed on Nursing Home Care Compare based on October 1 updates to the Minimum Data Set. CMS has also outlined a new scoring policy to be applied to providers that fail to submit accurate or complete staffing data.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released memo QSO-23-21-NH on September 20, 2023, outlining changes coming to the staffing and quality measures displayed on Nursing Home Care Compare. With the October 1 implementation of the updated Minimum Data Set (MDS), CMS will transition the case mix methodology used for Care Compare measures from RUGS-IV to a PDPM-based model. This transition impacts staffing level measures and four quality measures:
— LeadingAge, September 20, 2023
