Official Federal Register document with "Announcement of Nationwide Temporary Moratorium on Enrollment of Hospices" 
Federal Register National Archives; 5/14/26 
[On Thursday, 5/14/26] This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 2026-05-15 and available online at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-09718, and on https://govinfo.gov.

• SUMMARY: This notice announces the imposition of a 6-month nationwide moratorium on the
• Medicare enrollment of hospices.
• DATES: This moratorium is effective on May 13, 2026.
• FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Whelan, (410) 786-1302

Editor's Note: At the time of newsletter preparation, this document was publicly viewable in advance of its official Federal Register publication scheduled for May 15, 2026.

FOR YOU - Free webinar today by CHAP, 3-4pm ET: The National Hospice and Home Health Enrollment Moratorium | What we know so far 
Community Health Accreditation Partner; webinar will be presented by Kim Skehan, Jennifer Kennedy, and Teresa Harbour; posted 5/14/26 with webinar 5/15/26 
Join CHAP and Kim Skehan for a timely discussion focused on what we currently know, what remains unclear, and how providers should be thinking about readiness, compliance, and next steps. Anyone can view and join online. During the webinar, we will cover:

FOR YOU - CMS just paused new hospice enrollments citing fraud. Here’s what your team needs to say this week. 
Transcend; by Tony Kudner; 5/13/26 
... While we’re glad steps are being taken to get the bad actors out, there are immediate implications for your teams in the community and in the intake department. The specifics are hard to ignore and will make headlines in your community if they haven’t already: ... 

• 6 Talking points for your liaisons
• 4 Talking points for your intake team
• What leadership’s next move should be
• Downloadable PDF of talking points

REPORTING of the CMS Hospice and Home Health Moratorium 
Hospice & Palliative Care Today; compiled by Joy Berger; 5/14/26 

• CMS.gov Files: Home Health and Hospice Nationwide Moratorium Q&As
• Q1: What is a moratorium? ... Q2: What is the legal authority? ...

• [Note] Q13: Will the nationwide hospice moratorium affect the ability to use telehealth for faceto-face recertification encounters? A13: No. The nationwide hospice moratorium will not impact the telehealth flexibility currently available for face-to-face recertification requirements. Hospices that are already enrolled can continue to utilize telehealth to conduct recertification encounters.

• CMS.gov Newsroom: CMS Announces Aggressive Nationwide Crackdown on Fraud with Six-Month Hospice and Home Health Agency Enrollment Moratoria 
  
• Announcement for Hospice
• Announcement for Home Health
• CNN, by Tami Luhby: Trump administration defers $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California amid fraud investigation
• McKnight's Senior Living, by Kimberly Bonvissuto: Medicare’s 6-month enrollment freeze on home health and hospice: What senior living providers need to know
• PBS News and Associated Press, by Ali Swenson and Michelle L. Price: WATCH - Vance and Oz announce numerous moves on Medicaid and Medicare fraud, focusing on Democratic-run states 
• The Washington Post | WP Intelligence, by Megan R. Wilson: CMS freeze jolts home care, hospice providers [paywall limits access]

RESPONSES to the CMS Hospice and Home Health Moratorium 
Hospice and Palliative Care Today; compiled by Joy Berger; 5/14/26 
Many organizations are responding to the CMS announcement on May 13th of an "aggressive nationwide crackdown on fraud with six-month hospice and home health agency enrollment moratoria." As always, our purpose is to guide readers directly to the source, with guidance for your discernment and applications to provide the best hospice and palliative care possible.

• AHA | American Hospital Association - CMS announces 6-month enrollment moratorium on home health and hospice providers
• The AHA strongly supports CMS’ efforts to protect the integrity of the Medicare program and combat fraud. Yet, as we have stated previously, we are concerned about subjecting entire categories of providers or claims to restrictions due to the actions of a limited number of bad actors. There are many rural and underserved areas of the country where hospitals struggle to find appropriate discharge locations for patients, and home health agencies and hospice providers are essential to ensuring timely and safe next levels of care.  This moratorium may exacerbate these existing difficulties. We therefore recommend CMS consider a more targeted, data-driven approach to identify bad actors while allowing quality care providers to continue to service Medicare beneficiaries.
• Idaho hospice agencies react to nationwide Medicare enrollment freeze
• Joint Statement from AHHC, the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and SCHCHA, Journal of Business News
• The Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina, the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and the South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association issue the following joint statement ... Our organizations share the Administration’s stated commitment to combating fraud, waste, and abuse ... [However,] we are deeply concerned that CMS has chosen to impose a blanket nationwide moratorium that reaches far beyond the documented geographic concentrations of fraud, ...
• LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan also said the association supports the administration’s goal of preventing fraudulent activities in the sector.
• The group also supports targeted program integrity efforts to root out bad actors and ensure that legitimate providers have the resources necessary to deliver quality care. [Mcknights Senior Living]
• National Center for Assisted Living
• "... said it supports program integrity efforts that are accurately targeted to provider types and service categories with documented fraud risk." [McKnights Senior Living]
• Reposting from our 5/14/26 newsletter:
• The Alliance responds to CMS’s announcement of nationwide enrollment moratoria on hospice and home health provider
• NPHI commends CMS action to implement temporary nationwide hospice moratorium to strengthen hospice program integrity 

SOS Hospice: Let’s ask ChatGPT to select a hospice program
Substack post; by Joan Teno; 5/11/26
In this essay, I asked ChatGPT to identify the “best” hospice in Rhode Island and then examines the logic and data sources behind the answer. The analysis highlights how AI rankings can rely on non-validated or imputed measures and may overlook important Medicare Care Compare context. Comparing ChatGPT’s top picks with the author’s own assessment illustrates how different metrics can point to very different conclusions. Bottom line: AI can be a useful starting point for questions about quality, but patients and families should treat hospice rankings with caution and verify claims using transparent, validated measures.

New hospice expands end-of-life care services in four-county area 
Coshocton Tribune, Coshocton County OH; by Jane Imbody; 5/14/26 
A new Heartland Hospice location has opened in Zanesville, expanding access to end-of-life care in the area. ... Heartland Hospice is part of the Gentiva family of healthcare providers. It offers care for patients with life-limiting or serious illnesses.

Locally owned and operated hospice center opens in downtown New Iberia, LA 
The Daily Iberian, New Iberia, LA; by Corey Vaughn; 5/12/26 
It’s always a scary decision to leave your job and start your own business, but New Iberia native Tyler Robicheaux said it’s an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Robicheaux officially opened the doors to Foundations Hospice last year after being given the opportunity, alongside silent partners, to take his years of hospice care experience to the next level. ... One of the best parts of being the owner of his own hospice business has been implementing his vision for good care from the ground up. “You get to build it from the ground up: the good and not so good,” he said. 

Blue Ridge Care unveils new hospice nursing scholarship 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 5/12/26 
Blue Ridge Care has launched a new scholarship for prospective nurses at a local community college. The Helen Zebarth Nursing Scholarship was established in partnership with Laurel Ridge Community College to expand financial educational support and experience in hospice, palliative and community-based care. Scholarship recipients receive tuition funding and increased exposure to end-of-life care settings during their education. The scholarship comes at a critical time of need, according to Blue Ridge Care’s Chief Engagement Officer Kim Golanski and the organization’s COO Altonia Garrett. 

Don’t guess with health: Samaritan helps families identify the best care level for their aging loved one 
citybiz | New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh | Non-Profit; by Samaritan; 5/11/26
When a loved one’s health begins to decline, families often face one of the most difficult questions in caregiving: What kind of care do they really need? Is it time for home-based primary care? Would palliative medicine improve quality of life while still seeking treatment? Or is hospice the most appropriate next step? ... With a full continuum of services—from primary care to end-of-life care—Samaritan helps families navigate complex healthcare decisions with compassion, expertise, and clarity. ... 
Editor's Note: Excellent descriptions for "choosing the right level of care" with simple, clear information and navigation services.

Executive Personnel Changes - 5/15/26

• Granite VNA hires Sandra Jobe as Vice President of Human Resources.  
  
  

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. ~ Erica Jong