Hospice, Home Health Providers Await CMS Decision on Moratoria
CMS's six-month moratoria on new Medicare hospice and home health enrollment are set to expire November 13, and the agency has not yet said whether it will extend them, according to industry attorneys interviewed by Hospice News. The moratoria bar new Medicare enrollment applications and certain ownership changes, which has stalled de novo expansions, acquisitions, and planned sales, with some Medicare Administrative Contractors denying applications even when filed before the moratoria took effect. CMS committed to giving at least 60 days' notice before expiration. Attorneys say an extension would continue to slow growth, while expiration could create a bottleneck of delayed transactions, and some industry stakeholders are pushing for more targeted, fraud-focused moratoria going forward, with states potentially adding their own restrictions.