Home Health & Hospice Week

The moratoria on new home health agencies continues in all counties in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas, according to a notice in the Aug. 2 Federal Register.

“A significant potential for fraud, waste, and abuse continues to exist regarding those provider and supplier types in these geographic areas,” the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says in the notice. “The circumstances warranting the imposition of the moratoria have not yet abated, and CMS has determined that the moratoria are still needed as we monitor the indicators and continue with administrative actions to combat fraud and abuse, such as payment suspensions and revocations of provider/supplier numbers.”

History: CMS first implemented the moratoria in July 2013 in Miami-Dade and Chicago (see Eli’s HCW, Vol. XXII, No. 27), two years after the moratorium authority was enacted. Then in February 2014, it added Fort Lauderdale and counties in Texas and Michigan (see Eli’s HCW, Vol. XXIII, No. 6) and in 2016 took the moratoria areas statewide (see Eli’s HCW, Vol. XXIV, No. 30).

“Since the imposition of the initial moratoria on July 31, 2013, more than 1,204 HHAs … in all geographic areas affected by the moratoria had their applications denied,” CMS adds. “We have found the number of applications that are denied after 60 days declines dramatically, as most providers and suppliers will not submit applications during the moratoria period.”

CMS will review the moratoria in another six months.