Feds extend freeze on new Medicare hospice, home health providers

The Trump administration is extending its moratorium on new Medicare enrollments from hospice and home health agencies (Source: “CMS extends moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for hospice, home health agencies,” Fierce Healthcare, Nov. 12).
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Thursday that it will extend the moratorium by six more months as part of its efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare program. 
 
Like the original moratorium, the extension applies nationwide. However, the extension will allow currently enrolled hospice providers or home health agencies to add new practice locations to their existing enrollment in Medicare. Providers currently enrolled in Medicare will not be impacted and can continue to provide services to beneficiaries.