CMS Compliance Group Archives

PBJ News Topic

PBJ Policy & Enforcement

CMS summer 2024 roundup: Star ratings unfreeze, MDS guidance and Appendix PP Update

August 14, 2024

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…

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PBJ audits and F-Tags

October 22, 2019

Our Take: CMS uses PBJ data to flag facilities for audit and to set staffing star ratings, with RN hours and reporting accuracy serving as the primary pressure points. Understanding what CMS is…

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CMS strengthens nursing home oversight and safety to ensure adequate staffing

November 30, 2018

Our Take: CMS issued a November 2018 directive after using PBJ data to identify facilities with low weekend staffing or recurring days without an RN onsite. The directive requires state agencies to conduct…

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Our Take: CMS repealed the nursing home minimum staffing rule in early 2026 following court defeats.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