CMS Seeks Input on Fraud Contractors, Gains New Exclusion Power

In a client alert, McDonald Hopkins reports that CMS is reviewing its fraud-investigation contractor structure through a request for information while simultaneously acquiring new authority to exclude providers from federal healthcare programs. The firm advises providers and counsel to evaluate these two developments together rather than separately, since combined they could change how fraud cases are investigated and how exclusion decisions are made. The alert does not specify a comment deadline or effective date for either change. The piece frames this as a compliance planning issue for providers facing potential program integrity scrutiny.

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