Key Takeaways CMS imposed nationwide six-month moratoria effective May 13, 2026, barring new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies as part of a broader program integrity initiative. The restrictions extend beyond new providers to certain ownership changes, branch additions and other expansion activity requiring initial enrollment applications. The moratoria create substantial operational and transactional risk for hospice and home health providers because routine business changes may now trigger prohibited enrollment activity. CMS also signaled heightened scrutiny of ownership structures, relocations and operational growth tied to alleged fraud and abuse concerns. Providers should carefully evaluate pending transactions, expansion plans and enrollment updates to determine whether they could trigger new Medicare enrollment activity during the moratoria period. Organizations also should monitor evolving state

Key Takeaways: CMS has proposed FY 2027 SNF PPS updates, including a 2.4% payment increase and changes to quality reporting and data submission. The proposal also removes certain COVID-19 measures and updates Care Compare reporting. The proposed changes would expand reporting obligations and accelerate submission timelines for skilled nursing facilities, potentially increasing administrative burden and compliance risk. Providers should assess the impact on operations and reporting processes and consider submitting comments before the June 1, 2026 deadline. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a proposed rule updating the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for FY 2027. The proposed rule signals CMS’ continued shift toward tighter reporting timelines, broader data collection and reduced reliance on pandemic-era quality measures