CMS imposes six-month moratorium on new hospice and home health providers nationwide

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a six-month moratorium on the establishment of new hospice and home health agencies nationwide, including in Mississippi. The move comes as part of an effort to investigate and prevent Medicare fraud within these high-risk categories.

CMS said the temporary halt will allow authorities to block new providers from entering the Medicare system while they identify and remove those involved in fraudulent activities. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz cited systemic fraud and exploitation of vulnerable patients as primary concerns.

Existing providers and those with current enrollments will be able to continue serving Medicare beneficiaries. The moratorium prevents new providers from enrolling or making changes to ownership that could mask fraudulent practices, CMS said.

In Mississippi, providers must be certified and enrolled with Medicare before enrolling in Medicaid. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid confirmed that providers cannot enroll in Medicaid during the moratorium unless they enrolled with Medicare beforehand.

CMS also plans to extend the moratorium if necessary. Recent coordinated efforts, including actions with Vice President J.D. Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force, led to suspensions of payments to approximately 800 providers suspected of fraud, responsible for $1.4 billion in Medicare spending last year.

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