Skilled Nursing News Archives | Page 8 Of 9

PBJ News Topic

PBJ Policy & Enforcement

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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Study: Nursing home staffing in disadvantaged neighborhoods

August 8, 2022

Our Take: A study found that nursing homes located in severely disadvantaged neighborhoods had RN staffing rates 30% lower and PT/OT staffing 38% lower than facilities in less deprived areas. This analysis used…

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Research shows COVID-19 vaccination mandates don’t negatively affect nursing home staffing

July 29, 2022

Our Take: A cohort study published in JAMA Health Forum found that state-level COVID-19 vaccine mandates increased nursing home staff vaccination rates without worsening reported staffing shortages. Researchers concluded the findings support extending…

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Staffing Minimums digest: Federal legislation, State mandates, Agency costs, and Legal challenges

July 28, 2022

Our Take: Federal and state efforts to impose minimum staffing requirements on SNFs are intensifying, even as providers face a labor shortage, rising agency costs, and inadequate Medicaid reimbursement. Legal challenges, proposed PBJ-linked…

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Research on COVID staffing finds policy action can stabilize staffing levels

July 22, 2022

Our Take: A cohort study published in JAMA Health Forum found that severe COVID-19 outbreaks caused lasting declines in nursing staff levels, with total staffing hours falling 5.5% below pre-outbreak levels 16 weeks…

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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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Study shows weekend and daily variation in nursing home staffing led to poorer clinical quality

March 14, 2022

Our Take: A 2022 study in JAMA Network Open analyzed PBJ data from 13,339 nursing homes and found that daily variation in RN and CNA staffing levels was significantly and negatively associated with…

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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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New research examines if nursing home staff turnover a good quality metric

March 1, 2021

Our Take: Research using PBJ staffing data shows nursing home staff turnover is associated with quality outcomes, but questions remain about whether turnover alone fully reflects facility performance. Labor shortages and market conditions…

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PBJ News Topics

Read about PBJ regulations, research & news impacting SNFs

Most Recent PBJ News

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…

State Attorneys General ask CMS for staffing rule on for-profit SNFs

February 1, 2026

Minimum Staffing Roundup

Our Take: Following CMS’s repeal of a federal staffing mandate, attorneys general from 18 states are urging the…

SNF benchmarking report points to value based care, Medicare Advantage, and PBJ scrutiny

January 30, 2026

Latest PBJ News

Our Take: Plante Moran’s 2025 SNF Benchmarking Report analyzes data from over 12,000 skilled nursing facilities. They highlighted…

AHCA: Nursing homes added 40,700 jobs in 2025 as turnover, agency use declined

January 28, 2026

PBJ Research & Analysis

Our Take: AHCA/NCAL’s January 2026 Nursing Home Workforce Report shows that the nursing home sector added 40,700 jobs…

CMS Special Focus Facility program ‘crack down’ on troubled nursing homes ends use of staffing

January 28, 2026

PBJ Policy & Enforcement

Our Take: A CMS memo originally added staffing to the Special Focus Facility program but later shifted away…

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