PBJ News Topic

PBJ Policy & Enforcement

Proposed rule digest: Feds’ value-based changes present ‘long overdue’ opening for SNFs

April 6, 2023

Our Take: CMS finalized the FY 2024 SNF Prospective Payment System rule, delivering a 4.0% payment increase of approximately $1.4 billion while overhauling the Value-Based Purchasing program. VBP sees new measures tied to…

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CMS starts study to inform minimum staffing rules for nursing homes

August 30, 2022

Our Take: In August 2022, CMS launched a four-part staffing study that included a literature review, site visits to 75 nursing homes across 15 states, quantitative analyses using PBJ data, and cost analyses.…

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CMS directs states to strengthen nursing home staffing and quality through Medicaid

August 25, 2022

Our Take: On August 22, 2022, CMS issued a CMCS Informational Bulletin directing states to use existing Medicaid authority and payment tools to improve nursing home staffing levels, worker compensation, and quality of…

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CMS reveals differing opinions on minimum staffing approach

August 10, 2022

Our Take: CMS issued the FY 2023 SNF proposed rule and included a formal Request for Information on establishing federal minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities. The rule drew more than 3,000…

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CMS issues significant updates to improve the safety and quality care for long-term care residents

June 30, 2022

Our Take: Effective with the July 2022 refresh, CMS added six staffing measures to the Five-Star Quality Rating System, incorporating weekend staffing levels and annual staff turnover, while limiting the overall star bonus…

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To advance information on quality of care, CMS makes nursing home staffing data available

January 30, 2022

Our Take: CMS began publicly posting nursing home staff turnover rates and weekend staffing levels on Care Compare in January 2022, using PBJ data since 2016. These turnover and weekend measures will be…

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CMS announces updates to Five Star Quality Rating System

November 30, 2020

Our Take: CMS announced that all three Five Star Quality Rating System domains, Health Inspections, Quality Measures, and Staffing, will resume full updates with the January 27, 2021 quarterly refresh. The update coincides…

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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 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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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 News Topics

Read about PBJ regulations, research & news impacting SNFs

Most Recent PBJ News

NJ SNF sues CMS over PBJ audits, citing no appeal rights

April 22, 2026

Latest PBJ News

Our Take: A New Jersey skilled nursing facility filed a federal lawsuit on April 21, 2026, alleging that…

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…

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