The Home Health Enrollment Moratorium Ends Nov. 13 Unless CMS Extends It: How to Prepare

The national home health enrollment moratorium that CMS put in place on May 13 is scheduled to run out on Nov. 13. As of mid-October reporting, CMS had not said whether it will extend it, lift it, or narrow it. For agencies whose growth plans have been sitting on a shelf since spring, the next three weeks matter more than most.

What the home health enrollment moratorium actually blocks

The moratorium stops new Medicare enrollment for home health agencies and hospices nationwide, and it also covers non-exempt changes in majority ownership. CMS's own FAQ is clear that existing agencies can keep billing, keep serving patients, and make routine updates like a phone number change or most practice location moves. What it shuts down is the de novo route and a good share of deal activity. CMS can extend a moratorium in six-month increments, and any extension or lift has to be published in the Federal Register.

What providers are feeling on the ground

Home Health Care News and Hospice News reported in mid-October that operators have paused new locations, acquisitions have stalled before filing, and some small owners who planned to sell or retire are simply stuck. Attorneys interviewed also said some contractors denied applications even when they were filed before the moratorium began. If CMS lets it expire, expect a bottleneck as delayed applications all move at once. If CMS extends it, growth stays slow, and several stakeholders are pushing for more targeted moratoria in markets where fraud has actually been concentrated.

How to prepare either way

The practical move is to get ready for both outcomes now. Keep any pending ownership or location paperwork current so it can move the week a decision lands. Watch the Federal Register, the CMS moratoria page, and your MAC's announcements rather than waiting for word of mouth. And treat clean operations as part of the case for growth: with CMS framing this as a fraud and abuse measure, agencies that can show consistent visit documentation and clear records will be in a stronger position whenever enrollment reopens. At CareSync®, that kind of everyday visibility is what we build for.

We will keep tracking what CMS decides before Nov. 13. Separately, a small invite-only space for home health professionals is in the works, a place to compare notes on changes like this one, and we hope it turns out to be genuinely useful for the field.

Sources: CMS Provider Enrollment Moratoria; CMS Home Health and Hospice Moratorium FAQs; Home Health Care News, Oct. 15, 2026.