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.