The Trump administration has announced a six-month freeze on new Medicare hospice and home health providers to combat fraud.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration announced a six-month nationwide freeze on new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health providers as part of a broader crackdown on healthcare fraud, with officials saying scammers have exploited vulnerable patients and billed the government for unnecessary services. 👤 WHO WAS INVOLVED: The initiative is being coordinated with Vice President J.D. Vance and his anti-fraud task force, which is spearheading efforts to root out fraudulent activity in high-risk sectors. 📺 DETAIL: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said existing providers will not be affected, but the pause will allow regulators to strengthen oversight and investigate suspicious billing practices. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the move is intended to protect patients and taxpayer dollars. Vice President Vance is leading a federal anti-fraud task force focused on abuses in hospice and home healthcare programs. Federal officials estimate tens of billions of dollars are lost annually to healthcare fraud, with California receiving particular scrutiny over allegations of widespread hospice abuse and fraudulent claims. Medicare spent roughly $28.3 billion on hospice care and $16 billion on home healthcare in 2024, according to federal data. 🎯 IMPACT: While current providers remain unaffected and can continue serving patients, the freeze could greatly reduce the fraud in hospice care for anyone trying to acquire federal funds going forward. |
“We are going to turn off the money”
🚨 BREAKING: @VP announces that @WHFraudTF is requiring all state Medicaid programs to show they are aggressively prosecuting fraud. pic.twitter.com/WprFmqiO9V
— HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) May 13, 2026
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