Six-Month Freeze on New Home Health Agencies: Protecting Dollars or Delaying Care?
Published Date: 5/15/2026
Notice
Summary
Starting May 13, 2026, the government is hitting pause for six months on new home health agencies joining Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. This temporary freeze helps stop fraud and protect your healthcare dollars. If you’re a new home health agency, you’ll need to wait before enrolling, but current services keep running smoothly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
Nationwide 6‑Month HHA Enrollment Freeze
Starting May 13, 2026, CMS imposed a nationwide 6‑month moratorium on enrolling new home health agencies (HHAs) and new HHA branches/practice locations into Medicare. The freeze may be extended in additional 6‑month increments, and any enrollment application received by the Medicare contractor before May 13, 2026 is not subject to the moratorium.
States Decide on Medicaid/CHIP HHA Moratoria
CMS is asking each State to decide whether to impose a home health provider moratorium for Medicaid and CHIP and is offering consultation to States. CMS noted States must weigh access to care and may notify CMS if a moratorium would adversely affect Medicaid beneficiaries' access to care.
Limited Appeal Rights; No Judicial Review
The statute provides that there is no judicial review of CMS's decision to impose a temporary moratorium. A provider or supplier denied enrollment because of a moratorium may administratively appeal under 42 CFR part 498, but the appeal can only consider whether the moratorium applies to that provider or supplier.
Change‑of‑Ownership Reenrollments Blocked If Initial Enrollment Required
An HHA undergoing a non‑exempt change in majority ownership (CIMO) that requires an initial enrollment (per 42 CFR 424.550(b)) will be treated as a new enrollment and therefore would be prohibited from reenrolling into Medicare while the moratorium is in effect.
Application Fee Refund If Denied By Moratorium
If a provider's Medicare enrollment application is denied because of the temporary moratorium, the application fee will be refunded in accordance with 42 CFR 424.514(d)(2)(v)(C).
Existing Beneficiary Access Expected To Continue
CMS states there are over 11,500 HHAs nationwide and that it has not seen evidence of a present nationwide shortage of HHAs; CMS does not believe the national moratorium will threaten beneficiaries' ability to receive home health services and will monitor for any access issues.
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