Skilled Nursing News Archives | Page 9 Of 10

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CMS nursing home ratings and staffing enforcement face national media scrutiny; Industry groups respond

November 23, 2022

Our Take: Investigations by USA Today and U.S. News & World Report in late 2022 revealed significant gaps between CMS star ratings and actual staffing levels at nursing homes. Reporters claimed federal enforcement…

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MedPAC’s recommendations: state staffing policies could hamper federal mandate

September 30, 2022

Our Take: MedPAC analysts used PBJ data at the Commission’s September 2022 meeting to show staffing shifts in SNFs, including a near-tripling of contract staff hours between 2019 and 2021. The Commission declined…

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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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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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PBJ News Topics

Read about PBJ regulations, research & news impacting SNFs

Most Recent PBJ News

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…

Virginia tries again for a state staffing minimum

February 17, 2026

Latest PBJ News

Our Take: Virginia has spent more than two years trying to establish nursing home minimum staffing standards. New…

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