CMS Imposes Nationwide Temporary Moratorium on Hospice Enrollment
On May 13, CMS announced a “nationwide temporary moratorium on enrollment of hospices,” imposing a six-month freeze on new Medicare hospice enrollments effective May 13, 2026. The agency invoked its authority under the Affordable Care Act, which permits temporary enrollment moratoria when CMS determines they are necessary to prevent fraud, waste, or abuse. The moratorium does not apply to enrollment applications submitted to the Medicare Administrative Contractors prior to the date of the moratorium. Like the Medicare DME moratorium described below, CMS did not include Medicaid or CHIP in the hospice enrollment moratorium but encourages states to do so.
CMS Announces Nationwide DMEPOS Enrollment Moratorium as Part of Fraud Crackdown
On February 25, CMS announced a “nationwide moratorium on Medicare enrollment for certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers,” temporarily halting new supplier enrollments and certain ownership changes in categories identified as particularly susceptible to fraud. CMS has historically identified DMEPOS as a high-risk area for improper billing, citing more than $1.5 billion in suspected fraudulent billing in this sector in the prior year. The moratorium reflects a deliberate shift away from “pay-and-chase” enforcement toward preemptive controls, allowing CMS to pause market entry to support ongoing investigations and risk mitigation efforts.
CDC Testing Pause Shifts Responsibility to Clinical Labs
In April 2026, the CDC temporarily paused diagnostic testing for more than two dozen infectious diseases—including rabies, poxviruses, certain parasites, and other specialized assays—describing the move as part of a “routine review” to ensure laboratory quality. In response, state and commercial laboratories are stepping in to absorb testing demand, effectively shifting frontline responsibility for disease detection and monitoring away from the federal government and onto a more decentralized network.
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