CMS Hospice & Home Health Moratorium: What CHAP Knows So Far
Last updated: May 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
This page is CHAP’s primary reference point regarding the CMS Hospice and Home Health enrollment moratorium. It is intended for providers, partners, and the general public, and may also be used by CHAP staff when responding to questions.
CHAP is updating this page as frequently as possible based on official CMS guidance and publicly available information. We will not speculate or provide guidance beyond what CMS has clearly communicated.
Summary of the CMS Moratorium
On May 13, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a national moratorium on the enrollment of new Medicare Hospice and Home Health agencies. The moratorium applies to Medicare enrollment only and is part of CMS’s broader program integrity efforts.
Based on CMS guidance to date:
- The moratorium restricts new Medicare enrollments for Hospice and Home Health agencies.
- It does not automatically apply to all providers or all enrollment scenarios.
- Certain applications received by CMS prior to the moratorium date may continue to be processed, depending on their status.
- State licensure, Medicaid, and CHIP programs are handled separately and may vary by state.
CMS has indicated that this moratorium is intended as a time‑limited (6‑month) enrollment restriction, not a shutdown of existing providers.
Webinar Recording
CHAP hosted an informational webinar discussing the CMS moratorium, including what has been confirmed and what remains unknown.
This moratorium applies specifically to Medicare enrollment. CHAP discussed confirmed information and open questions during the webinar above.
How to Use This Page
This page is designed to provide clear, consistent information based solely on confirmed CMS guidance.
For Providers, Partners, and the Public
- This page reflects only what CMS has confirmed as of the date and time listed at the top of the page.
- Not all possible scenarios are addressed individually. Whether and how the moratorium applies depends on a provider’s specific Medicare enrollment status and the timing of their application.
- This page does not provide legal, regulatory, or business advice and should not be used as a substitute for official CMS communications.
- Information may change as CMS issues additional clarification.
CHAP will update this page as new CMS guidance becomes available.
What CHAP Knows Right Now
The following reflects what CMS has confirmed as of the date listed above.
Medicare Enrollment
- The moratorium applies to new Medicare enrollments for Hospice and Home Health.
- Enrollment applications received by CMS prior to the moratorium effective date may not be subject to the moratorium, consistent with federal regulation (§424.570).
- CMS evaluates each application based on its individual enrollment status, including whether a Document Control Number (DCN) has been issued or whether an 855A recommendation letter has been received.
Accreditation and Surveys
- Accreditation activity is not automatically suspended by the CMS moratorium.
- Providers with a DCN and an 855A recommendation letter or MAC receipt of the 855A application may still be eligible to move forward in the accreditation process based on CMS rules.
- CMS has not indicated that previously completed, valid accreditation surveys are invalid solely due to the moratorium.
Providers Already in Process
- CMS has acknowledged that providers affected by the moratorium may already:
- Hold a state license
- Serve patients
- Be mid‑process with Medicare enrollment or accreditation
- CMS guidance distinguishes between applications already received by CMS and those not submitted before the moratorium took effect.
Medicaid and CHIP
- CMS has stated that Medicaid and CHIP moratoria are state‑specific decisions.
- Each state may determine whether to implement its own Hospice or Home Health moratorium for Medicaid or CHIP.
- CMS is offering to consult with states, but requirements and impacts will vary.
State Licensure
- The CMS moratorium applies to Medicare enrollment only.
- State licensure is governed by state law and regulation and may continue independently of CMS Medicare enrollment.
Additional Resources
- CHAP Blog: Hospice & Home Health Medicare Moratorium – What We Know So Far
- CHAP’s formal response to CMS (in response to the Request for Information related to Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare, or CRUSH)
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs are currently being updated and will be added next week. Please check back soon as we continue expanding this resource to help keep providers informed, prepared, and up to date with the latest information and guidance.