PBJ News Topic

PBJ Research & Analysis

Nursing homes increasingly rely on staffing agencies for direct care nursing

February 14, 2024

Our Take: A study of PBJ data found that agency nursing staff in SNFs nearly doubled from 23% to nearly 50% between 2018 and 2022. Agency hours rose from 3% to 11% of…

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Nursing home staffing: Share of immigrant CNAs grew as US-born staff numbers fell

January 8, 2024

Our Take: A Health Affairs study found that foreign-born CNAs became an increasingly critical share of the nursing home workforce as native-born CNA numbers fell 39% between 2010 and 2021. Higher immigrant concentrations…

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High-quality nursing home dementia care is not only a matter of adding staff

December 29, 2023

Our Take: A study concluded that high-dementia facilities still underperformed on antipsychotic use and activities of daily living despite increased RN and CNA hours. The study indicated that increased staffing alone cannot close…

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LPN exclusion triggers confusion & questions

November 14, 2023

Our Take: The CMS minimum staffing rule sets minimum RN and CNA hours but excludes Licensed Practical Nurses. This gap drew widespread criticism from providers, industry associations, and policy experts warning that sidelining…

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Understanding staffing compliance issues & exemptions

November 13, 2023

Our Take: While awaiting finalization of the proposed CMS minimum staffing mandate, analysts investigated its impact across four dimensions: workforce supply shortfalls, hardship exemption accessibility, facility assessment compliance timelines, and the capacity of…

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Patient advocates push for proposed staffing minimums in SNFs

November 13, 2023

Our Take: Patient advocates argued that the proposed minimum 3.48 HPRD threshold doesn’t go far enough. Yet many SNFs are below the proposed threshold and questioning a one-size-fits-all rule can define clinical needs.…

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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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Comments on proposed minimum staffing rule pour in to CMS

November 6, 2023

Our Take: The November 6, 2023 comment deadline for CMS’s proposed minimum staffing rule drew a record-breaking 40,000-plus submissions. A broad coalition of skilled nursing operators, major associations, and former federal officials called…

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Opposition has plans to defeat CMS’ proposed minimums rule

November 4, 2023

Our Take: As the 60-day public comment period closed November 6, AHCA/NCAL and major provider associations formally called on CMS to rescind its proposed federal staffing mandate. Bipartisan senators, former House Speaker Paul…

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Congress has thoughts about the proposed minimum staffing rule

November 2, 2023

Our Take: Throughout fall 2023, a broad and bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators, House members, governors, MedPAC commissioners, and long-term care organizations called on the Biden Administration to withdraw its proposed minimum nursing…

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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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