The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending for six months its current moratoria on the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment of new nonemergency ground ambulance suppliers and home health agencies (HHAs) in selected states, effective January 27, 2017. The temporary moratoria on new HHA enrollment (including new subunits and branch locations) applies to Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas, while the moratoria on enrollment of non-emergency ground ambulance providers and suppliers applies to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas. CMS has determined, in consultation with the Office of Inspector General, that "a significant potential for fraud, waste, and abuse continues to exist regarding those provider and supplier types in these geographic areas." According to a January 9, 2017 CMS notice, since the imposition of the initial moratoria on July 31, 2013, CMS has denied 1,147 HHA and 19 ambulance company enrollment applications in the affected geographic areas.
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