On June 10, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system will transition to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) beginning Aug. 17, 2026. While PBJ reporting requirements and submission deadlines remain unchanged, skilled nursing facilities will need to adapt their submission processes, user access, and reporting workflows to the new platform. Because PBJ data influences Five-Star staffing ratings, value based purchasing performance, and reimbursement, organizations should take steps now to ensure a smooth transition.
What’s changing?
- All PBJ staffing data submissions, including quarter four (July 1 through Sept. 30, 2026), must be submitted through iQIES. QIES will no longer accept PBJ submissions.
- PBJ reports will be accessed through iQIES, rather than the existing QIES/CASPER reporting environment.
- Users must obtain the appropriate iQIES roles and approvals before they can submit or access PBJ data.
- CMS is migrating approximately 10 years of historical PBJ data into iQIES, allowing providers to continue accessing historical reporting information through the new platform.
What isn’t changing?
- PBJ reporting requirements.
- Quarterly submission deadlines.
- Staffing data collection expectations.
- The role PBJ data plays in the Five-Star staffing rating, SNF value based purchasing, and public reporting on Care Compare.
How it impacts your margin
PBJ data drives the metrics that referral partners, surveyors, and payers use to evaluate your facilities:
- Five-Star staffing rating. Because it’s based directly on PBJ submissions (e.g., case-mix adjusted nurse hours per resident per day, weekend staffing, and turnover), inaccurate or late data can drop your rating a full star and shift referral patterns.
- Federal minimum staffing rule. CMS uses PBJ data to identify facilities that are below federal and state staffing minimums, triggering targeted surveys and enforcement.
- Automatic one-star pitfalls. An automatic one-star staffing rating will be imposed for missing the submission deadline, four or more days in a quarter with zero RN hours, or failing to respond to a PBJ audit.
- Reimbursement exposure. PBJ data is a core input to state Medicaid reimbursement systems as part of their SNF value based purchasing and increasingly influences managed care contracting and network inclusion.
What providers should do now
- Confirm that all individuals involved in PBJ reporting have appropriate iQIES access.
- Identify and assign required user roles, including Provider Security Officials (PSOs).
- Coordinate with third-party PBJ vendors regarding any required system integrations or authorization processes.
- Review staff responsibilities and submission workflows ahead of the transition.
- Familiarize teams with upcoming CMS training and guidance materials.
Beyond compliance: Evaluating PBJ processes
Given its impact on public reporting and staffing-related quality measures, accurate PBJ reporting remains critical. The move to iQIES presents an opportunity to review existing PBJ processes, strengthen data governance, and improve staffing data accuracy. Organizations may benefit from evaluating:
- PBJ data validation processes.
- Payroll and staffing data reconciliation procedures.
- Contract labor reporting accuracy.
- Submission controls and oversight.
- Internal roles and responsibilities related to PBJ compliance.
The bottom line is PBJ reporting requirements and quarterly deadlines aren’t changing — the submission platform, user access, and reporting workflows are. Because PBJ data feeds Five-Star staffing ratings, SNF value based purchasing, and the federal minimum staffing rule, a bumpy transition can translate directly into referral, occupancy, and reimbursement risk.
