The 2026 hospice and home health enrollment moratorium: what it means for buyers and sellers
On May 13, 2026, CMS stopped accepting new Medicare enrollments for hospices and home health agencies nationwide for six months, with the option to extend. Existing certified agencies keep billing, and for many of them the moratorium has made a sale more valuable.
What the moratorium does
CMS imposed a nationwide moratorium on new Medicare enrollment of hospices and home health agencies, effective May 13, 2026. It covers every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. It also blocks new home health branches and new hospice and home health practice locations.
The initial moratorium runs for six months. CMS can extend it in six-month increments, or lift it early. Check the current status before you rely on any date.
It applies to Medicare only. CMS did not require states to impose matching Medicaid moratoria, though some states have their own.
What it does not do
- It does not terminate existing enrollments. Certified agencies keep serving patients and billing Medicare.
- It does not apply to applications the Medicare contractor received before May 13, 2026.
- It does not by itself stop an ownership change that keeps the existing enrollment in place.
How it interacts with the 36-month rule
This is where it matters most for sellers. If an ownership change falls inside the 36-month window, CMS treats the result as a new enrollment. During the moratorium, that new enrollment cannot happen, so the sale is effectively blocked.
If the agency is past its 36-month mark, a change in majority ownership can generally be structured to keep the existing certification. That kind of sale can still close.
Every situation is different. Confirm your structure with healthcare counsel before you sign anything.
What it means for price
While new enrollments are frozen, buying an existing certified agency is the main way for an operator to enter or expand in hospice and home health. That has raised buyer interest in certified agencies that are past the 36-month mark, including agencies with little or no census.
If you own a certified agency and have thought about selling, this is a good time to find out where you stand. Riverbluff checks enrollment age and transferability as part of every free valuation.