The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will soon use payroll-based journal (PBJ) data to update staffing measures in the Five-Star Quality Rating System. 

CMS plans to introduce PBJ-based staffing measures in April 2018 that will reflect PBJ data submitted by providers for the period Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2017.  

We are waiting for CMS to address key methodology questions, including whether it will update a facility’s rating to reflect new data submissions at intervals throughout a given year, and whether it will continue to require facilities to complete staffing information on Form CMS-671. 

CMS has assured providers it will release details of Five-Star changes before they take effect, and we will keep members posted with as much information as we can.