Kentucky's statewide staffing ratio is 3.85 HPRD in Q1 2026. Kentucky's statewide staffing ratio is up slightly (+0.01) since Q1 2025. This level is near the national ratio of 3.75 HPRD and ranks #24 out of 51 states.
Kentucky
Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. Direct staff excludes Admin/DON.
Kentucky
Kentucky
Kentucky
60 facilities flagged for staffing or quality concerns.
| Facility | City | CMS ratings | Risk flags | Total HPRD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterAuburn | Auburn | 1★1★S | 3.06 HPRD | |
| Barbourville Health and Rehabilitation CenterBarbourville | Barbourville | 1★ | 3.73 HPRD | |
| Belmont Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterFlorence | Florence | 1★1★S | 3.75 HPRD | |
| Bourbon Heights Nursing HomeParis | Paris | SFF cand.c.1★ | 4.74 HPRD | |
| Bradford Heights Nursing & RehabilitationHopkinsville | Hopkinsville | 1★1★S | 3.18 HPRD |
Latest state staffing metrics for Kentucky.
| Metric | Kentucky | CMS Region 4CMS Region 4 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.Regional figures are calculated from facility-level data using the same methodology as the state figures. | U.S. | State rankRanks compare the 50 states and D.C. by the displayed metric value. A higher or lower rank is not inherently positive or negative for every metric, including contract staffing share and rural-facility share. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nurse Staffing HPRD | 3.85 | 3.74-0.11 vs KY | 3.75-0.11 vs KY | #24 of 51 |
| Direct Care Nurse HPRD | 3.49 | 3.46-0.03 vs KY | 3.48-0.01 vs KY | #28 of 51 |
| RN HPRD | 0.71 | 0.61-0.11 vs KY | 0.62-0.09 vs KY | #20 of 51 |
| RN Direct Care HPRD | 0.47 | 0.41-0.06 vs KY | 0.44-0.03 vs KY | #25 of 51 |
| Nurse Aide HPRD | 2.34 | 2.26-0.09 vs KY | 2.26-0.08 vs KY | #22 of 51 |
| Contract Staff Percentage | 3.2% | 3.6%+0.4 pts vs KY | 5.3%+2.1 pts vs KY | #43 of 51 |
| Median Case-Mix HPRD (Acuity) | — | 3.67 | 3.74 | #3 of 51 |
| Rural Facilities (Share) | 49% | 29%-20.1 pts vs KY | 27%-22.1 pts vs KY | #15 of 51 |
State rank reflects the displayed value, not necessarily stronger or weaker performance.
Largest organizations linked to facilities in CMS owner data.
Most facilities linked in CMS owner data (Kentucky).
| Organization | Facilities |
|---|---|
| Elmer Joseph Steier III | 38 |
| Ira Smedra | 38 |
| Jjla LLC | 38 |
| John H Harrison | 38 |
| Wheaten LLC | 38 |
| Signature Healthcare LLC | 37 |
| Benjamin Landa | 31 |
| David Rubenstein | 31 |
Recent CMS change-of-ownership activity.
106 ownership changes at 106 Kentucky facilities · 01/01/2016 – 02/01/2026.
Showing 10 of 40
Showing the most recent 40 of 106 indexed changes. Browse full KY ownership & CHOW search.
Daily PBJ data, employee rosters, and facility-level analysis.
Staffing from CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) public files (2017–2026), plus Provider Information and chain data where shown. State staffing context via MACPAC (2022). Methodology · PBJ explained.
Metrics
Note: Some states set minimums (e.g., NJ, CA, NY at 3.5 HPRD); a federal 3.48 minimum was recently overturned (2025). A 2001 federal study linked 4.1 HPRD to better outcomes in that study. Staffing needs vary by resident acuity (case-mix), day, and shift. Estimates on PBJ Takeaway assume roughly 60% of staff are CNAs.
Data transparency
The PBJ Dashboard pulls directly from CMS data and is carefully vetted for accuracy. Still, sometimes a bug sneaks into the jelly. That could mean: a systemic CMS data reporting issue (e.g., Q2 2017 contract staffing, missing data in 2020 due to COVID) or there could be a coding error on our part. If you spot something that looks off, please let me know via the contact form so I can set things right.
Trend charts omit quarters with implausible submitted HPRD (total/direct below 0.25; RN, LPN, and aide use role floors and neighbor-quarter rules). Full criteria.
Rankings, within-state percentiles, CMS flags (including abuse icon): How metrics are calculated.