CMS’s decision addresses NPHI’s calls to allow responsible hospice providers to expand access to care while continuing efforts to combat fraud.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care, responded today to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to extend and modify the nationwide moratorium on new Medicare hospice enrollments. NPHI supports the agency’s continued efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse and welcomes the new flexibility that will allow currently enrolled hospices to expand access to high-quality care.
In March 2026, NPHI became the first national hospice organization to publicly call for a six-month nationwide moratorium on new hospice enrollments, urging CMS to take decisive action against fraud and abuse within the Medicare hospice benefit. That call reflected NPHI’s longstanding commitment to protecting vulnerable patients and ensuring that Medicare dollars support legitimate, high-quality hospice care.
The extension allows currently enrolled hospices to add new practice locations within their existing Medicare enrollment. This change addresses an important concern NPHI has raised on behalf of established, responsible providers. For NPHI’s nonprofit members, this flexibility will help them respond to growing community needs, including in underserved areas.
As CMS builds on the moratorium’s progress, NPHI continues to urge targeted enforcement and clear pathways for proven, compliant hospices to meet growing demand for care.
“We are thrilled that CMS heard our voice and responded to our advocacy on behalf of nonprofit hospices and responsible providers working to serve their communities,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder and CEO of NPHI. “From our call for the original moratorium to our push for flexibility for established providers, our goal has been to protect patients and their access to trusted care. This change advances that goal, allowing hospices to reach more patients and families while CMS continues to root out fraud.”
In an August 27, 2026, letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and Deputy Administrator Kim Brandt, NPHI detailed recommendations for strengthening hospice program integrity through more targeted, evidence-based enforcement. These include greater scrutiny of high-risk ownership structures and unusual billing and utilization patterns, along with providers that fail to demonstrate legitimate operations or meet Medicare’s quality requirements. NPHI also urged CMS to make greater use of existing oversight tools to focus enforcement on providers and practices presenting the greatest risk, while protecting established, compliant hospices from unnecessary restrictions. Read NPHI’s letter.
NPHI also proposed establishing a Hospice Program Integrity Task Force, bringing together hospice leaders, clinicians, compliance professionals, and data experts to help CMS identify fraud and strengthen oversight. NPHI stands ready to commit resources and expertise to this effort.
“This is an important step forward, and we will continue advocating for enforcement that holds bad actors accountable while supporting responsible providers,” Tom added. “Protecting the Medicare hospice benefit means ensuring that patients and families can access high-quality care from providers they trust.”
NPHI looks forward to working alongside CMS to strengthen hospice program integrity and ensure trusted hospice providers can continue meeting the needs of patients and families nationwide.
