Trump Administration Suspends Enrollment of New Home Health Providers in Medicare
The Trump administration has decided to pause the enrollment of new home health and hospice providers into Medicare, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday.
This action is part of a broader initiative led by Vice President J.D. Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force, which aims to tackle healthcare fraud nationwide. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement confirming that the agency’s functions will proceed as usual. The government is intensifying its crackdown on fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare system to deter inappropriate claims and prevent dishonest entities from accessing the program.
Huge: @VP Vance’s Fraud Task Force just withheld $1.4 billion in federal funds after a sweeping crackdown on fraud in California, Minnesota and other states. Gone are the days of blank checks and zero responsibility. pic.twitter.com/NowjJEAO0d— White House (@WhiteHouse) May 13, 2026
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the CMS Administrator, stated that the agency has observed pervasive and troubling fraud in the hospice and home healthcare sectors, where dishonest actors have taken advantage of vulnerable Medicare patients, costing taxpayers significantly. “Today, we will close the door on fraud and prevent new bad actors from entering Medicare,” Oz asserted, emphasizing the importance of protecting patients and taxpayer funds.
During this six-month suspension, CMS plans to enhance targeted investigations, utilize advanced data analytics, and expedite the removal of home health agencies (HHAs) suspected of misconduct from the Medicare program, as outlined in their recent news release.
On Tuesday, Vance remarked, “We launched the most aggressive federal anti-fraud effort in American history.” CMS recently noted that the improper payment rate for Medicare fee-for-service in fiscal year 2025 was 6.55%, down from 7.66% in fiscal year 2024.
In related news, the Department of Justice announced on May 8 that former NFL player Joel Rufus French was sentenced to over 16 years in prison for his involvement in a $197 million Medicare fraud scheme. Furthermore, a federal court recently approved a request to seize more than $2 million from the Advanced Wound Care Clinic in Pasadena, California, which is accused of defrauding Medicare for services that were never provided.
