Payroll Based Journal (PBJ)...Mandatory Staffing Data Collection

The Affordable Care Act requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to collect electronic staffing data from nursing homes. The Act mandates that this information be auditable and verifiable. The data is intended to capture direct care staffing levels including both employed and contracted staff as well as employee turnover, tenure, census data, and case mix. 

To fulfill this requirement, CMS developed the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system. The first mandatory reporting period began on July 1, 2016. Additional information about PBJ, including the PBJ policy manual Electronic Staffing Data Submission - Long-Term Care Facility Version 2.7 June 2025Staffing Data Submission Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) | CMS, is available through CMS. 

CMS uses PBJ data to produce risk-adjusted measures of average hours per resident day by nursing job category. These measures have been incorporated into the Five-Star Quality Rating System and play a significant role in determining a facility’s Staffing Star Rating. As a result, accurate and timely PBJ submissions are essential, as they directly impact public reporting, regulatory oversight, and consumer transparency.

Registration is free to AHCA/NCAL Members

Instructions to Register: 

• To avoid technical problems, use Google Chrome. 
• Members will need to log in using their existing email and password first. 
• Once you are logged in to the website you will be able to register by clicking the green register button at the top of the page. 
• If you have forgotten your password click here. 
• If you are new to the site, you can create an account here. Answer all fields on the create an account page- especially locating your company name. You can search by name or zip code. After creating an account, you will be able to register. 

Instructions to view, after registering:

• Log in and return to the contents page to open the content.

Email educate@ahca.org if you need assistance.