Home Health Brief
Home Health; Hospice

Medicare's nationwide freeze on new home health agencies and hospices reaches its six-month mark in mid-November

The short answer: CMS's nationwide moratoria on enrolling new Medicare home health agencies and hospices took effect May 13, 2026, for six months, which runs to about Nov. 13. CMS can extend them in six-month steps by Federal Register notice or lift them early. As of Oct. 28, no extension notice had been published.

CMS has not said whether it will extend the moratoria that began May 13. Here is what they block, what they allow and what to watch.

By Published Last updated 8 sources linked
A smiling visiting nurse with a lanyard badge opens a front door for a home visit
File photo from 2007: a visiting nurse with a military family-support program. It is not a Medicare-certified agency and is not connected to the moratorium. Photo: U.S. Marine Corps / Wikimedia Commons, public domain (cropped) · Public domain (work of the U.S. federal government)

At a glance

Both moratoria are effective May 13, 2026, and were published May 15, 2026. Sources below

CMS's twin moratoria on enrolling new Medicare home health agencies and new hospices took effect May 13, 2026, nationwide, including the territories and D.C. (HHA notice; hospice notice). Both were published May 15.

Key facts - Start: May 13, 2026 - Term: six months under 42 CFR 424.570(b), which is about Nov. 13 by our count - Extensions: six months at a time, announced in the Federal Register - Blocked: new HHAs, HHA branches and practice locations, new hospices and hospice practice locations - Medicaid and CHIP: not imposed federally; states decide - As of Oct. 28: no extension or lift notice published

When do the moratoria end?

Under the rule, a moratorium "remains in effect for 6 months" and "may be extended in 6-month increments," and CMS says it will publish any extension in the Federal Register. Six months from May 13 is Nov. 13. That date is our arithmetic; neither notice prints an end date. CMS can also lift a moratorium early, for example if it decides the risk has been addressed. As of the morning of Oct. 28, we found no extension or lift notice in the Federal Register or on its public inspection list.

One data point, not a forecast: CMS also froze new medical-supply (DMEPOS) enrollments nationwide on Feb. 27, 2026. We found no Federal Register extension of that one, and CMS's moratoria page, last modified Aug. 27, now lists only the home health and hospice moratoria as active.

What is blocked?

New Medicare enrollments of HHAs and hospices, new HHA branches and new practice locations. CMS's FAQ (revised July 9) says an agency can't add a branch under an existing CCN during the freeze. An HHA change in majority ownership within 36 months of enrollment, which already triggers new enrollment under 42 CFR 424.550(b), is also blocked. CMS's QSO-26-11 memo says accreditation is not a route around it.

What is still allowed?

Applications CMS received before May 13, changes of practice location (unless the move is into the moratorium area, which here is everywhere), changes of information and certain ownership changes. The FAQ says mergers and acquisitions can proceed if they don't involve a blocked majority ownership change or a new location. Revalidation continues as normal.

What happens to applications filed during the freeze?

They are denied, and the application fee is refunded. The FAQ says the applicant must resubmit after the moratorium ends. The notices say a denial can't be taken to court, and administrative review is limited to whether the moratorium applied to that applicant. Once a moratorium lifts, CMS screens that provider type at its "high" level for six months.

Why did CMS impose them?

CMS pointed to rapid HHA growth in Los Angeles County, more than 40% from 2019 to 2023, and clusters of agencies sharing addresses in Ohio and other states. For hospices it cited outlier enrollment patterns in Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada and Texas. CMS said the moratoria would not hurt access, given more than 11,500 HHAs nationwide.

What does it mean in Illinois?

Illinois is covered like every state. Illinois last lived under a statewide HHA moratorium from 2016 until the earlier moratoria expired Jan. 30, 2019, according to the HHA notice. The Illinois Hospice & Palliative Care Organization issued a statement on the hospice moratorium in July. We found no separate Illinois Medicaid moratorium.

What should agencies watch?

The Federal Register in the days before Nov. 13, and CMS's provider enrollment moratoria page. Home Health Care News reported on Oct. 15 on how operators are planning around the freeze. We will update this story when CMS acts.

Sources

Track every MAC change: our Medicare jurisdictions tracker lists CMS and MAC bulletins by jurisdiction, including Palmetto GBA, Jurisdiction M for Illinois.

It is general information, not clinical, billing or legal advice.*

Drafted with AI assistance from primary sources and reviewed by Monsaur Othman before publication. Read how we use AI, our editorial policy and our corrections policy.

Informational only, not billing, legal or clinical advice. Check the linked primary source and your Medicare Administrative Contractor.

Key facts and where they come from

  • Both moratoria are effective May 13, 2026, and were published May 15, 2026. source 1 · source 2
  • Under 42 CFR 424.570(b) a moratorium lasts 6 months and may be extended in 6-month increments; any extension is published in the Federal Register. CMS may lift it early under 424.570(d). source 1
  • Nov. 13 is our calculation of six months from May 13; CMS's notices do not print an end date. source 1
  • No extension or lift notice appeared in Federal Register searches or on the public inspection list as of the morning of Oct. 28, 2026. source 1
  • CMS's moratoria page (last modified Aug. 27, 2026) lists only the HHA and hospice moratoria as active; no FR extension of the Feb. 27, 2026, DMEPOS moratorium was found. source 1 · source 2
  • Exempt: applications received before May 13; practice-location changes (except moving into the area); information changes; certain ownership changes. CIMOs within 36 months under 424.550(b) are blocked. source 1
  • Applications filed during the moratorium are denied and must be resubmitted after it ends; revalidation continues; no new branches on an existing CCN. source 1
  • Denials cannot be judicially reviewed under section 1866(j)(7)(B); Part 498 review is limited to whether the moratorium applies; the application fee is refunded. source 1
  • After a moratorium is lifted, affected provider types are screened at the high level for 6 months. source 1
  • CMS cited Los Angeles County HHA growth of more than 40% from 2019 to 2023 and hospice outliers in AZ, CA, GA, NV and TX. source 1 · source 2
  • QSO-26-11: accreditation is not a basis for new participation during the moratoria. source 1