Are You PBJ Ready?

As of July 1, 2016, nursing homes are required to collect staffing data in a format that will facilitate reporting to CMS to meet Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) requirements. The first mandatory reporting deadline is in November (i.e., 45 days after the end of the quarter for those who intend to file data for the entire quarter at one time); there is no need to wait until then. Homes may submit data incrementally––monthly, weekly, or even daily. The first step in the submission process is registering with the PBJ system here to obtain a CMSNet User ID and a PBJ QUIES Provider ID. Although the majority of homes in New York have registered, CMS reports that 21 percent of the state's homes have yet to do so. This registration rate is lower than most surrounding states, and we urge members to ensure that they are registered and ready to make PBJ submissions.

Equally important is ensuring that your home is collecting the required payroll data and doing so in a format that will allow transmittal to CMS. The CMS PBJ Manual is available here with a set of FAQs posted here. Recorded training sessions are available at the QTSO e-University here.

Slides from the LeadingAge NY CFO Council Meeting PBJ sessions are available here; members attending next week's Financial Managers Conference will have an opportunity to hear the latest PBJ news there as well. Please let us know if you have questions or concerns regarding the PBJ registration process.

Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841