Medicare Enrollment Freeze to Expire on November 13
The potential end of the agency moratorium may soon allow new hospice and home health providers to enroll in Medicare.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Healthcare
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The federal enrollment freeze for new hospice and home health agencies in the United States is set to expire on November 13, 2026. CMS has not yet signaled whether it will extend the current moratorium, which has been in place since May.
Why it matters
The agency implemented this freeze to curb fraudulent activity within the sector, and the decision to extend or lift it will dictate market entry conditions for new home health providers and hospice operators across the country.
Since May 13, 2026, CMS has denied 300 total applications for new agencies and suspended 899 existing providers, withholding $1.4 billion in payments. Of these suspended providers, 812 are concentrated in California.
The players
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The federal agency responsible for administering Medicare and implementing oversight moratoria to target fraudulent industry practices.
The details
CMS utilizes moratoria to restrict new enrollments, branch openings, and changes in majority ownership to mitigate fraud. While existing Medicare-enrolled providers remain operational, the uncertainty regarding an extension complicates growth planning for operators looking to launch new agencies or acquire existing assets. The agency manages these restrictions in six-month cycles via the Federal Register.
Timeline
May 13, 2026: Medicare enrollment freeze for new agencies took effect.
November 13, 2026: Current Medicare enrollment freeze is set to expire.
May 2027: Potential expiration date if CMS extends the freeze.
Market Landscape
The potential expiration follows the established CMS Medicare provider enrollment moratorium protocols used to manage fraud risk. This move mirrors prior agency efforts to stabilize the hospice and home health sectors through periodic, targeted regional and national entry restrictions.
Operators planning new agency launches or acquisitions should prepare for continued uncertainty until a formal notice appears in the Federal Register. If the freeze persists, expect ongoing difficulties with new branch enrollments and ownership changes through mid-2027.
The takeaway
The expiration of the moratorium represents a critical window for operators to monitor potential changes in entry compliance. Management should check the Federal Register daily through November 13 for any official extension notice from CMS.
Further reading
For more on industry oversight, see our coverage in Healthcare.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Medical Daily.
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