PBJ Policy & Enforcement | Latest News On CMS Rule Changes

PBJ News Topic

PBJ Policy & Enforcement

CMS proposes broad revisions to nursing home participation requirements; Congressional hearings amplify staffing and oversight concerns

July 31, 2019

Our Take: CMS proposed changes to nursing home Requirements for Participation – covering facility assessments, QAPI, infection prevention, and compliance and ethics programs. Senate and House Committee hearings signal intensifying regulatory and legislative…

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CMS: hundreds more buildings could receive one-star staffing ratings under new rules

April 30, 2019

Our Take: In April 2019, CMS updated Nursing Home Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System with significant changes to staffing, health inspection, and quality measure ratings. For staffing, the threshold triggering an…

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CMS peels back curtain on why providers receive PBJ audits

November 29, 2018

Our Take: Audits of PBJ data were introduced in the shift to PBJ from the prior staffing data collection method. With triggered or random audits, CMS verifies reported data is consistent with payroll…

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Skilled Nursing Facilities can’t just ‘check the box’ under new payroll requirements

August 14, 2018

Our Take: A QSO memo from CMS alerted PBJ world that the Five Star ratings are now going to be based on payroll-based journal data. With the transition away from 671 collected data,…

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PBJ data goes public

September 30, 2017

Our Take: The payroll based journal program shifted into a higher gear with the publication of a new CMS Survey and Certification letter. PBJ data is now publicly available and visitors to Nursing…

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CMS announces a new Payroll-Based Journal system

April 30, 2015

Our Take: The Payroll-Based Journal staffing data system was launched in April, 2015 when CMS documented the PBJ plan with several Policy Memos. These Survey & Certification Letters defined the outlines and purpose of…

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PBJ News Topics

Read about PBJ regulations, research & news impacting SNFs

Most Recent PBJ News

SNF pay rate proposals bring heightened CMS enforcement

April 10, 2026

PBJ Policy & Enforcement

Our Take: CMS has proposed a 2.4% Medicare rate increase for SNFs in FY 2027 while simultaneously expanding…

Minnesota SNF wage floor implementation delayed as CMS review restarts and provider associations file federal lawsuit

April 9, 2026

Latest PBJ News

Our Take: Minnesota’s Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board was created in 2023 to set binding wage floors and…

New York minimum staffing mandate journeys through workforce shortages, enforcement, and legal challenges

April 8, 2026

Latest PBJ News

Our Take: New York’s 3.5-hour minimum staffing requirement has progressed from contested legislation to active penalty assessment. State…

Democratic bills revive minimum staffing debate

March 30, 2026

Minimum Staffing Roundup

Our Take: CMS repealed the nursing home minimum staffing rule in early 2026 following court defeats. Key provisions…

CMS nursing home funding campaign grows to $200 million

March 16, 2026

Minimum Staffing Roundup

Our Take: CMS has expanded its nursing home staffing campaign from $75 million to $200 million. Proposed with…

PBJ technical specifications changed

March 16, 2026

PBJ Policy & Enforcement

Our Take: CMS made minor updates to the PBJ data specification for uploaded PBJ files. Users can no…

The effects of labor unions on nurse staffing ratios

March 2, 2026

PBJ Research & Analysis

Our Take: A Health Affairs study of 321 newly unionized nursing homes from 2013 to 2021 found that…

Did state staffing mandates add direct care staff or hurt SNF finances?

March 2, 2026

PBJ Research & Analysis

Our Take: A study of 6,849 nursing homes in 22 states found that state minimum staffing mandates raised…

Medical Director compliance under increasing federal and state scrutiny

February 23, 2026

Latest PBJ News

Our Take: Federal regulators and state lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of SNF medical directors. OIG is actively reviewing…

Virginia tries again for a state staffing minimum

February 17, 2026

Latest PBJ News

Our Take: Virginia has spent more than two years trying to establish nursing home minimum staffing standards. New…

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