by Kristin Rowan, Editor

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is keeping its nationwide freeze on new Medicare enrollments for home health and hospice agencies in place for another six months. But this time, there is an important change that gives existing providers more room to grow.

Announced November 12, 2026, the extension is part of CMS’ ongoing effort to stop fraud, protect patients, and prevent the misuse of Medicare funds.

CMS says some dishonest operators have used these programs to bill Medicare for services that were never provided, were not needed, or did not meet program rules.

The enrollment freeze is designed to stop potentially fraudulent businesses from entering the Medicare program while federal officials investigate suspicious activity. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the agency has made progress but still has work to do. The goal is to protect Medicare patients while making sure taxpayer dollars go toward legitimate care.

CMS is also using advanced data tools to identify unusual billing patterns and other warning signs that may point to fraud.

The extension applies to home health and hospice agencies across all 50 states. Under the continued restrictions, CMS will not accept certain new Medicare enrollment applications from these providers.

The freeze also applies to certain changes in majority ownership. This means some business sales or ownership transfers may face enrollment restrictions.

By applying the rules nationwide, CMS hopes to prevent dishonest operators from simply moving to another state to avoid the restrictions.

The extension now allows currently enrolled agencies to add new practice locations under their existing enrollment. This is welcome news for legitimate providers looking to expand their services. However, agencies must still follow all other Medicare enrollment requirements.

The freeze does not cancel existing Medicare enrollments. Home health and hospice agencies already enrolled in Medicare can continue caring for patients and billing for covered services, as long as they remain in compliance with program rules.

CMS is also expanding its efforts to identify questionable providers before and after they enroll in Medicare.

These efforts include more site visits, fingerprint-based background checks, closer reviews of enrollment applications, and additional reviews of Medicare claims. The agency can also suspend payments or revoke Medicare enrollment when providers fail to meet program requirements.

Together, these steps are intended to make it harder for fraudulent businesses to enter Medicare and easier for CMS to take action when problems are found.

The 2027 Home Health Final Rule strengthens oversight. See this week’s article on the final rule here.

CMS is sending a clear message to the home health and hospice industries: Fighting fraud remains a top priority. The additional six-month freeze will continue to limit new Medicare enrollments, but the change allowing existing agencies to add locations offers some relief for providers with plans to grow.

At the same time, stronger enrollment rules and increased enforcement mean agencies must pay close attention to compliance.
For established providers, the message is straightforward. Growth is still possible, but careful planning, accurate records, and strong oversight will be essential.

As CMS continues its crackdown on fraud, agencies that understand the rules and stay ahead of compliance requirements will be better prepared for what comes next.

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Kristin Rowan is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She is also a sought-after speaker on Artificial Intelligence, Technology Adoption and Lone Worker Safety. She is available to speak at state and national conferences as well as software user-group meetings.

Kristin also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. She works with care at home software providers to create dynamic content that increases conversions for direct e-mail, social media, and websites.  Connect with Kristin directly at kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2026 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com