CMS UPDATE: Q2 2020 Optional PBJ Data Due November 14

Posted in INDUSTRY NEWS, Long-Term Care

Jenn Feige – ezPBJ

CMS has announced that Q2 2020 data (January 1 – March 31) is due no later than November 14 for facilities that choose to submit. The alert was posted on the CMS PBJ  portal and reads:

New Q2 Deadline:
CMS has established November 14, 2020 as the new deadline for the Q2 2020 data.
Historically, Q2 2020 data is due May 15th. Q2 encompasses January 1 – March 31, 2020.
Facilities are encouraged to submit data promptly as this new deadline falls on the same day as the Q4 2020 deadline.

Previous announcements

CMS issued a PBJ reporting waiver in March that stated nursing facilities do not have to submit their Q2 (January 1 – March 31) PBJ data by May 15 due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.  

CMS released a subsequent letter in June announcing the end of the PBJ reporting waiver.  The letter stated that facilities were once again required to submit their Q3 (April 1 – June 30) PBJ data by the normal August 14 deadline, but that submission of Q2 (January 1 – March 31) PBJ data was optional (though encouraged).
 What does this mean for me?
Do I have to submit PBJ data for January 1 – March 31?
No, January-March data submission is still optional. If you choose to submit the data, it is due no later than November 14.  

What if I already submitted PBJ data for January 1 – March 31? That’s fine, but any changes you might need to make to the data must be submitted by November 14.

How is CMS going to use the January 1 – March 31 PBJ data? The data will be published in a Public Use File and available for download at https://data.medicare.gov/data/nursing-home-compare.

Will the January 1 – March 31 PBJ data affect my Staffing Five Star? No, the data will not be used in the Staffing Five Star calculation on Nursing Home Compare.

Is there a penalty for not submitting the January 1 – March 31 PBJ data? No, there is no penalty for not submitting January-March PBJ data.  However, CMS has repeatedly stated that providers are strongly encouraged to submit the data if they are able.

When is my July 1 – September 30 PBJ data due? Your July-September data is due by November 14.

So two PBJ reports are now due by November 14? That depends. Your July-September data (Q4 2020) is a mandatory submission due by November 14.  Your January-March (Q2 2020) PBJ data is an optional submission also due by November 14.

We will provide you with additional information as it becomes available.