CMS pauses Medicare enrollment for home health and hospice providers

CMS has temporarily halted new provider enrollment for home health and hospice services in Medicare, though specific details on duration and scope are not provided in the brief announcement. The enrollment pause likely reflects heightened scrutiny of fraud vulnerabilities in these sectors, which have been subjects of recent OIG investigations. Medicaid managed care organizations with delegated or integrated home health and hospice networks should monitor whether similar restrictions emerge in their contracts or state programs, particularly for dual-eligible populations where Medicare enrollment status affects network adequacy.

LTSS · Long-Term Care · Managed Care