FAQs for PBJ Policy Manual | Jun 2025

CURRENT FAQs IN EFFECT
PUBLISHED: June 2025

The active, current PBJ FAQ document was published in June 2025 and was the first update to FAQs in 7 years.

This FAQ added eight questions, and modified two previously answered questions.  New concepts included:

  • Q2 (2025): Which providers are subject to PBJ? (moved/renumbered from Q3 in 2018)

  • Q8: Nurse consultant hours — can they be reported?

  • Q15: Remote nursing staff hours — not reportable

  • Q18: RN coverage and meal break deductions clarification

  • Q19: RN waiver facilities guidance

Updated Content

  • Facilities that fail to submit staffing data or submit erroneous data will now also receive the lowest score for staff turnover measures — this penalty is new in 2025

  • The NH Compare website is now called Care Compare, replacing "Nursing Home Compare"

  • The November update now occurs on the 1st Wednesday of December rather than the 4th Wednesday of November

  • Updates are now described as "last Wednesday" rather than "4th Wednesday" of the month

  • Q20 (2025): Salaried employee hours — added clarification that if a salary is based on more than 40 hours/week and supported by contract, those total hours minus meal breaks may be reported

Removed

  • The 2018 registration training link to QTSO e-University is gone; replaced with updated registration URLs

Here are the new questions added in the 2025 FAQ:

  • Q8 (Nurse Consultant): Clarifies that nurse consultant hours may be reported if the consultant is paid by the facility to be onsite providing direct resident care, not monitoring tasks.

  • Q15 (Remote Work): States that nursing staff hours cannot be reported if worked remotely, as staff must be onsite and available for direct care.

  • Q18 (RN Coverage/Meal Breaks): Clarifies that facilities won't be penalized during surveys for reporting 7.5 hours instead of 8 when the 30-minute meal break deduction is properly documented.

  • Q19 (RN Waiver): Explains that facilities with an RN waiver can contact CMS for verification to avoid a 1-star staffing downgrade, provided they meet the minimum 40-hour-per-week RN requirement.

    PBJ-Policy-Manual-FAQ-06-30-2025.pdf