CMS allowed its six month enrollment moratorium for new durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers to expire August 27, putting renewed attention on what the agency may do next with the separate nationwide moratorium affecting new home health and hospice Medicare enrollments.
The home health and hospice moratorium took effect May 13 and is currently scheduled to expire November 13 unless CMS extends it.
CMS previously told home health and hospice stakeholders that it would provide approximately 60 days' notice if the moratorium is extended, making mid September an important period to watch for additional guidance.
The DMEPOS decision does not necessarily signal what CMS will do with home health and hospice. Broader program integrity initiatives are still underway, including proposed Medicare enrollment changes and additional fraud prevention rulemaking.
Why it matters
For existing home health and hospice providers, the moratorium does not interrupt current Medicare participation or patient care. However, an extension could continue affecting organizations considering new Medicare enrollments, expansion strategies, acquisitions or other transactions.
It would also signal that CMS intends to continue using broad enrollment restrictions while longer term program integrity policies are developed.
What to do