PBJ Library of Resources

Get free access to key CMS, academic, media and public information on PBJ.

CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) Policy Manual

PBJ Policy Manual

The PBJ Policy Manual describes how skilled nursing facilities must report quarterly staffing levels with data on employee identifiers, date worked, hours worked and paid and unique job title and pay type codes.

View the latest PBJ Policy Manual Version 2.6, published in June 2022.

CMS' QSO Memorandums

CMS communicates major policy changes and updates through memorandum and letters from the Quality, Safey & Oversight (QSO) Group sent to State Survey Agencies.

The PBJ-specific QSO memos since 2015 outline the increased enforcement of staffing requirements and use PBJ data.

Studies of PBJ Data

Since 2018, academic and media analysis of publicly available PBJ data has made headlines and influenced policy makers.

The PBJ Library includes our compilation of all known PBJ research studies, as well as the associated media coverage of these research studies and publications.

Provider PBJ Tools

CMS provides PBJ guides, spreadsheets,  instructions, and online software tools to help skilled nursing providers and their vendors comply with PBJ reporting requirements.

The PBJ Library provides a hub of important  links to these critical PBJ tools.

Technical Users' Guide

Care Compare is the public listing of skilled nursing facilities and their Five Star ratings.

The Five Star Technical Users’ Guide describes the methods CMS uses to compute the overall Five Star rating for as well as the Five Star ratings for Staffing, Quality and Inspections.

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Studies PBJ Data

Read the studies & media coverage of PBJ based research

Provider PBJ Hub

Links to key PBJ resources for skilled nursing facilities

CMS QSO Memos

Memos to states with CMS' PBJ guidance and policies

Tech Users Guide

How to calculate the Five Star ratings on Care Compare

PBJ Policy Manual

CMS' rules & requirements for quarterly PBJ submissions

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Get a free Library Pass to the archives of key PBJ manuals, research, communications and web tools.