CMS to Post Non-Nursing Staffing Data for Care Centers

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Jonathan Lips

In November 2017, CMS began posting the number of hours worked by nursing staff submitted through the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system on data.cms.gov (see S&C memorandum 17-45-NH).

Beginning July 2018, CMS will also post the number of hours worked by other staff (administration, dietary, therapy, etc.), as listed in Table 1 of the PBJ Policy Manual. The agency will also distinguish between hours submitted for direct employees and contract staff. The information will include the total number of hours submitted for each staff category. 

In its announcement, CMS encouraged stakeholders “to use this information to learn how different categories of staff can improve quality and outcomes for residents.”

CMS posts these public use files at data.cms.gov (not on Nursing Home Compare). From that home page, select Special Programs/Initiatives, then Payroll Based Journal. Additional technical information is available in a January 2018 CMS background brief.