CMS hospice enrollment moratorium
Definition
A temporary nationwide suspension imposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the initial Medicare enrollment applications for new hospice providers and home health agencies, effective May 13, 2026, designed to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare program.
This policy freezes new provider enrollments while allowing existing ones to continue operations, giving CMS time to strengthen oversight amid rising concerns over fraudulent hospice schemes.
Examples
The CMS hospice enrollment moratorium hit just in time, saving Medicare from another wave of 'end-of-life entrepreneurs' who thought hospices were a get-rich-quick scheme.
Entrepreneurs eyeing the hospice market are now googling 'CMS hospice enrollment moratorium' and weeping into their business plans.
Thanks to the CMS hospice enrollment moratorium, fraudsters have pivoted to selling 'authentic' miracle cures on late-night infomercials instead.
The CMS hospice enrollment moratorium is like that bouncer at the Medicare club: 'Sorry, new faces only if you're legit – no scammers tonight.'