OIG urges CMS to tighten oversight on nursing home staffing using PBJ data—will your facility meet the mark?
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance its oversight of nursing home staffing by making better use of Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) data. In a report released June 9, 2025, OIG recommends:
- Flagging nursing homes that provide less than the federally required 8 RN hours per day.
- Sharing more detailed staffing data with states, including CNA levels and alignment with resident care needs.
However, CMS partially disagrees, citing resource limitations and current efforts already in place. CMS currently only flags homes with zero RN hours for 4+ days per quarter, arguing that's a more urgent risk. It also emphasizes its January 2025 updated surveyor guidance and Care Compare updates, including stricter penalties for inaccurate PBJ submissions.
Despite this, OIG maintains its stance and points out several oversight gaps:
- Facilities with less than 8 RN hours are not currently flagged.
- The one-star staffing rating is too broad and not always useful for surveyors.
- States report needing timelier, more detailed data, especially on nighttime staffing and per-resident care needs.
Industry advocates and stakeholders (AHCA/NCAL and LeadingAge) argue that enforcement alone is insufficient without real government investment in recruitment and workforce support. The consensus is that solving long-term staffing shortages will require more than enhanced reporting—it will require systemic workforce development and funding.
Stay tuned for updates to this story. For all the latest news impacting your facility’s success, reach out to your Polaris Consultant for more information.
Source:
Office of Inspector General Report, summarized by Skilled Nursing News.
Document: OIG Urges More Oversight June 2025
Date Accessed: June 2025
