Medicare halts enrollment of new hospice, home health ...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it will pause the enrollment of new hospice and home health providers.
www.statnews.comHere’s the latest on CMS hospice enrollment moratorium.
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What happened: CMS announced a six-month nationwide moratorium on enrolling new hospice providers (and home health agencies) in Medicare. The pause began around May 13–12, 2026, and applies to initial enrollment applications and certain changes in ownership; current enrollments and existing providers continue to operate.[4][5][6]
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Scope and purpose: The measure targets “high-risk” providers to curb fraud, waste, and abuse in hospice and home health programs, giving CMS time to bolster oversight and enforcement. It does not suspend services to patients already eligible or being served.[1][5][4]
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Support and context: The action aligns with broader anti-fraud initiatives and coordination with the Administration’s task forces; hospice and home health groups have debated the policy, with some concerns about access for legitimate new providers and patients.[6][9][1]
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Practical impact for providers and patients:
- For new entrants: No new Medicare enrollment approvals for hospices or HHAs for the duration of the six-month period; ownership changes that affect control may be blocked.[5]
- For existing providers and patients: Services continue; no disruption to ongoing care or enrollment of current patients.[1][4]
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Related developments to watch: CMS’s Provider Enrollment Moratoria page confirms the six-month duration and scope; updates or extensions could follow if fraud concerns persist or if Congress/process changes occur.[5]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official CMS notices or summarize how California or other states are reacting, and I can also provide a concise brief for a policy discussion or internal memo. Would you prefer a brief memo-style summary or a quick Q&A for frontline staff?
Citations:
- CMS six-month nationwide enrollment moratorium announcement and details[4][5]
- Background on the broader fraud-fighting context and impact on patients/providers[6][1]
- Confirmation that current enrollments and existing providers are not affected[4]