Effective
July 29, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”)
announced that it is issuing a six-month extension of its moratoria for newly
enrolling home health agencies in specified geographic regions that will
prohibit new provider and supplier applications in such areas. CMS has twice previously used this Affordable Care Act tool as part of its efforts to fight fraud, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and ensure access to care is not interrupted, and may continue to do so in the future. The moratoria will not prevent existing providers and suppliers from continuing to deliver and bill for their services. The moratorium extension does not extend nationally, but zeroes in on newly-enrolling home health agencies in the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, and Miami.
An advanced
copy of the Federal Register notice indicates that, according to CMS, “the extension
is necessary because the significant potential for fraud, waste and abuse
continues in these areas.” A copy of the moratoria in the Federal
Register may be accessed here.
Should
you have any questions regarding the moratoria, please do not hesitate to
contact Lori McLaughlin at (219) 227-6075 or lmclaughlin@kdlegal.com.