PBJ News Topic

PBJ Research & Analysis

Nursing Home Compare star ratings before versus after a change in nursing home ownership

July 29, 2024

Our Take: A study of 15,471 SNFs found that CMS Five-Star ratings declined slightly following ownership changes between 2016 and 2022. The primary driver is lower staffing ratings, with RN hours per resident…

Read this post

Operators and chains seek effective response to minimum staffing mandate

July 25, 2024

Our Take: Operators and trade associations cited limited labor supply, agency dependence, and admission restrictions as the operational realities in a minimum staffing world. These solutions emerged as the most likely near-term compliance…

Read this post

The relationship between nursing home staffing and health outcomes revisited

July 16, 2024

Our Take: A JAMDA study using 2017–2019 PBJ data found that staffing type, not just total hours, produces meaningfully different and sometimes opposite quality outcomes. RNs are linked to fewer hospitalizations and ER…

Read this post

FY 25 SNF Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

May 1, 2024

Our Take: CMS issued the FY 2025 SNF Prospective Payment System proposed rule, which includes a 4.1% payment rate increase, expanded civil monetary penalties and updates to the SNF Value-Based Purchasing program. A…

Read this post

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…

Read this post

CMS finalizes minimum staffing rule, elicits strong reactions

April 22, 2024

Our Take: On April 22, 2024, CMS issued the first-ever federal minimum nurse staffing standards for Medicare & Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities. The rule requires 3.48 total nursing hours per resident day (HPRD),…

Read this post

Minimum staffing rule advances toward finalization despite opposition

April 16, 2024

Our Take: The proposed minimum staffing rule moved steadily from proposal through OMB review in April 2024. The Biden Administration publicly committed to finalizing despite widespread provider opposition and having to review 46,000…

Read this post

Top factors in nurses ending health care employment between 2018 and 2021

April 9, 2024

Our Take: A cross-sectional study of 7,887 nurses found that after planned retirement, burnout (26%), insufficient staffing (21%), and family obligations (18%) were the top reasons nurses left healthcare employment. Critically, 41% of…

Read this post

Tunneling and hidden profits in health care: study finds 63% of nursing home profits concealed through related-party transactions

March 14, 2024

Our Take: A working paper by UCLA & Lehigh economists finds that 63% of nursing home profits are concealed from regulators through inflated payments to related-party real estate and management companies. This “tunneling”…

Read this post

Connecticut staffing mandate brings $55M in unexpected costs.

February 28, 2024

Our Take: Connecticut’s nursing home staffing mandate generated $55 million in unanticipated Medicaid liability after a state health agency imposed RN-specific hour requirements beyond legislative intent. The rule that was in effect for…

Read this post

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…

Newsletter Signup

Get monthly update emails.
Or join the PBJ Circle for conversations, events & more PBJ resources