PBJ News Topic

PBJ Research & Analysis

A look at nursing facility characteristics in 2025

December 17, 2025

Our Take: KFF’s 2025 data analysis reports that nursing facility deficiencies rose 40% over the past decade as staffing hours per resident declined. 27% of SNFs are now cited for serious deficiencies for…

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What do State staffing rules tell us?

April 24, 2025

Our Take: States with the toughest nursing home staffing mandates are struggling to enforce them. Governors have paused penalties and PBJ data confirms widespread non-compliance. A growing number of states are turning to…

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1 in 5 nursing facilities would meet fully-implemented minimum staffing standards

April 22, 2024

Our Take: In April, 2024, CMS released a final rule establishing minimum nurse staffing standards for nursing facilities, including 3.48 total hours per resident day (HPRD), A KFF analysis using Payroll Based Journal…

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How can facilities get ready for minimum staffing requirements?

November 12, 2023

Our Take: Multiple analyses from KFF, AHCA, and state associations found that more than 80% of nursing homes lack the current staffing levels to comply with the CMS proposed minimum staffing rule. Providers,…

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Leaked CMS study finds no single staffing level guarantees quality care in nursing homes

June 30, 2023

Our Take: A comprehensive report prepared under contract to CMS by ABT Associates was inadvertently published in August 2023. The report found no single staffing level that would guarantee quality care in nursing…

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Nursing home staffing levels did not change significantly during COVID-19

May 3, 2021

Our Take: A May 2021 Health Affairs study using CMS PBJ data found that while total nursing hours in SNFs declined during the first nine months of COVID-19, nurse staff hours per resident…

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OIG Study: HHS watchdog probes enforcement of nursing home staffing standards

August 30, 2020

Our Take: The HHS Office of Inspector General’s review of how CMS enforces nursing home staffing requirements signals continued federal scrutiny of staffing compliance and reporting accuracy. Skilled nursing facilities should expect increased…

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Kaiser and NYT analysis: ‘It’s Almost Like a Ghost Town.’ most nursing homes overstated staffing for years

July 30, 2018

Our Take: A bombshell joint Kaiser Health News and New York Times report brought nursing home staffing into the spotlight and cast a bright light on payroll-based journal data – in the first…

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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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