| Get Ready for the August 14 Payroll-Based Journal Deadline | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Get-Ready-for-the-August-14-Payroll-Based-Journal-Deadline.aspx | Get Ready for the August 14 Payroll-Based Journal Deadline | | | | | 6/27/2024 4:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div>Staffing data for Q2 2024, April 1 – June 30, 2024, is due by 11:59 PM EST on August 14. Skilled nursing providers are advised to submit their data early and consult the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their submissions. <br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">Here are five reminders to help you in submitting your Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) data: </span></div><div><br></div><div><ol><li>Each staff member (employed directly or contract) should have a unique employee ID assigned to them. Do not utilize the same employee ID for more than one individual. The 1702D Individual Daily Staffing Report provides a list of staffing hours per employee per day. This can be utilized to ensure that an employee ID is not accidentally assigned to more than one staff member. <br><br></li><li>Providers should follow the instructions in the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Downloads/PBJ-Linking-Methodology.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">employee ID linking file </a>to link an old employee’s ID with a new one. This ensures continuity in reporting an employee’s hours when their ID changes (e.g., due to a change of vendor). <br><br></li><li>For every 8 hours of work, providers must exclude 30 minutes for a meal break. This must be deducted regardless of whether the meal was paid for or unpaid, and whether the break was taken. <br><br></li><li>Submit data early so you have time to run and review PBJ CASPER Reports and make necessary corrections prior to the submission deadline. If any errors are identified, they must be corrected before the final submission deadline. Please note that corrections will not be accepted after this deadline. The 1702S Staffing Summary Report provides information on the number of staff by job title and the total hours reported for the given job title. This report can be helpful in identifying if there are zero hours reported for a particular job title (e.g. zero RN hours). The 1703D Job Title Report can also be helpful in drilling down by work date the staffing hours for a particular job title. This can be particularly helpful to ensure that there are RN hours for each day. <br><br></li><li>If you are correcting data, be sure to utilize the “merge” and “replace” commands carefully. The “replace” command removes all the data for the quarter and replaces it with the new data in the file. Consult the <a href="https://qtso.cms.gov/system/files/qtso/PBJ_Provider_User_Guide_4.00.1.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">PBJ User Manual</a> for more information. </li></ol></div><div><br></div><div>AHCA released a <a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data#tab-product_tab_overviewhttps://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">webinar</a> on best practices for submitting data for PBJ, including how CASPER Reports can be utilized prior to the submission deadline to review and validate submitted data. AHCA has also created a <a href="/Survey-Regulatory-Legal/MemberOnlyDocs/Payroll%20Based%20Journal%20FAQs.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">frequently asked question resource</a> to support members with their staffing data submission. Members may direct their PBJ questions to AHCA at <a href="mailto:staffdatacollection@ahca.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">staffdatacollection@ahca.org</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>CMS has several resources to help answer provider questions on PBJ: </div><div><br></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/staffing-data-submission" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">CMS PBJ Website </a> </li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;"><a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/certificationandcomplianc/downloads/usersguide.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">Five-Star Technical User Guide</a> </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size:11pt;"></span>Technical q<span style="font-size:11pt;">uestions should be directed to the iQIES Service Center. Note due to the upcoming deadline, they anticipate a high volume of calls and emails. They can be reached via one of the following methods: </span></li></ul></ul></div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Email: <a href="mailto:iqies@cms.hhs.gov%E2%80%8B" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">iqies@cms.hhs.gov </a><br></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">Schedule a service call at <a href="https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/ccsq_support_central" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">CCSQ Support Central </a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">L</span><span style="font-size:11pt;">ive Chat at <a href="https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/ccsq_support_central" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">CCSQ Support Central </a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">Policy Questions should be directed to: <a href="mailto:NHStaffing@cms.hhs.gov%E2%80%AF" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">NHStaffing@cms.hhs.gov</a> </span><br></li></ul></div><p></p> | Staffing data for Q2 2024, April 1 – June 30, 2024, is due by 11:59 PM EST on August 14. | |
| Upcoming Payroll-Based Journal Deadline | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Upcoming-Payroll-Based-Journal-Deadline-.aspx | Upcoming Payroll-Based Journal Deadline | | | | | 4/30/2024 4:00:00 AM | | <p><br></p><div>Staffing data for the first quarter, January 1 – March 31, of 2024 is due by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on May 15. Providers are advised to submit their data early and consult the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their submissions. If any errors are identified, they must be corrected before the final submission deadline. Please note that corrections will not be accepted after this deadline. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">AHCA recently released a <a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data#tab-product_tab_overviewhttps://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">webinar</a> on best practices for submitting data for PBJ, including how CASPER Reports can be utilized prior to the submission deadline to review and validate submitted data. AHCA has also created a <a href="/Survey-Regulatory-Legal/MemberOnlyDocs/Payroll%20Based%20Journal%20FAQs.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">frequently asked question resource</a> to support members with their staffing data submission. Members may direct their PBJ questions to AHCA at <a href="mailto:staffdatacollection@ahca.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">staffdatacollection@ahca.org</a>. </span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">Following are some reminders for providers as they submit data: </span></div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Each staff member (employed directly or contract) should have a unique employee ID assigned to them. Do not utilize the same employee ID for more than one individual. </li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">Providers should follow the instructions in the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Downloads/PBJ-Linking-Methodology.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">employee ID linking file</a> to link an old employee’s ID with a new one. This ensures continuity in reporting an employee’s hours when their ID changes (e.g., due to a change of vendor). </span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">For every 8 hours of work, providers must exclude 30 minutes for a meal break. This must be deducted regardless of whether the meal was paid for or unpaid, and whether the break was taken. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">CMS has several resources to help answer provider questions on PBJ: </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size:11pt;"></span><a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/staffing-data-submission" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">CMS PBJ Website</a> <br></li><li><a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/certificationandcomplianc/downloads/usersguide.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;">F</span><span style="font-size:11pt;">ive-Star Technical User Guide </span></a></li><li>Technical Questions should be directed to: <a href="mailto:iqies@cms.hhs.gov" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;">iqies@cms.hhs.gov</a></li><li>Policy Questions should be directed to: <a href="mailto:NHStaffing@cms.hhs.gov" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">NHStaffing@cms.hhs.gov </a></li></ul></ul></div><p></p> | Staffing data for the first quarter, January 1 – March 31, of 2024 is due by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on May 15. | |
| AHCA Releases Payroll-Based Journal Best Practices Webinar | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/AHCA-Releases-Payroll-Based-Journal-Best-Practices-Webinar.aspx | AHCA Releases Payroll-Based Journal Best Practices Webinar | | | | | 3/6/2024 5:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div>AHCA recently released a <a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data#tab-product_tab_overviewhttps://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">webinar</a> on best practices for submitting data to the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ). Speakers during this webinar include members of the AHCA Workforce committee, Peggy Connorton, Covenant Living Communities and Services and Lois McCaskey, Genesis, to provide best practices for submitting mandatory staffing data to PBJ. The speakers cover how PBJ Casper Reports can be utilized prior to the submission deadline to review and validate submitted data. Additionally, strategies are provided to help providers prepare for PBJ audits. </div><div> </div><div>Log into <a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">ahcancalED</a> today to review the <a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data#tab-product_tab_overviewhttps://educate.ahcancal.org/products/payroll-based-journal-best-practices-for-submitting-data" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">webinar</a> and prepare for a successful submission of Q1 2024 (January 1-March 31, 2024) data on May 15, 2024. <br><br></div><div><br></div> | AHCA recently released a webinar on best practices for submitting data to the Payroll-Based Journal.
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| April 2024 Staffing Five-Star Projections Added to LTC Trend Tracker | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/April-2024-Staffing-Five-Star-Projections-Added-to-LTC-Trend-Tracker.aspx | April 2024 Staffing Five-Star Projections Added to LTC Trend Tracker | | | | | 2/13/2024 5:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div>In April 2024, CMS will adjust the five-star staffing scoring methodology to penalize missing turnover data. Missing turnover rates will be scored at the lowest points possible (e.g. 5 out of 50 points) instead of rebasing the scoring to allow missing data to be neutral. </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">Other Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ)-related Five-Star penalties remain, such as an automatic 1-star staffing rating for not submitting PBJ data or having four or more days with no registered nurse hours. </span><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">For more details, see the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/usersguide.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">CMS Five-Star Technical Manual</a> and <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-23-21-nh.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">CMS’s memo from September 2023</a>. </span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>Most centers are not projected to be impacted by this scoring change, but 10 percent could see a decrease. </strong>The three PBJ-based turnover measures (Total Nurse, RN, and Administrator) require six consecutive quarters of PBJ data to be calculated. Most centers (68%) have non-missing rates for all three, while about 10 percent are missing all three in the January 31, 2024, release of CMS Care Compare. </span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">The AHCA/NCAL Research Department modeled the April 2024 scoring changes on the latest available data and found that 90% of centers had no change in their staffing star ratings, nine percent of ratings decreased by one star and one percent by two stars. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;"><a href="/Data-and-Research/LTC-Trend-Tracker/Documents/Your%20Top%20Line%20for%20Providers.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">Access the latest Your Top-Line publication in LTC Trend Tracker</a> (2024-Q1, released on February 13) to see the projected impact of these changes for your center. </span></div><div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><img src="/News-and-Communications/Blog/PublishingImages/Pages/April-2024-Staffing-Five-Star-Projections-Added-to-LTC-Trend-Tracker/Picture1.png" alt="Picture1.png" style="margin:5px;" /><br></span></div><div><br></div> | In April 2024, CMS will adjust the five-star staffing scoring methodology to penalize missing turnover data. | |