PA Department of Human Services Temporary Moratorium on Medical Assistance Program Enrollment of New Hospices

The Department of Human Services (Department) is announcing the imposition of a 6-month moratorium on Medical Assistance (MA) Program enrollment of newly enrolling hospices, effective May 15, 2026.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act), the Commonwealth may impose periods of enrollment moratoria for providers or suppliers identified as being at high-risk for fraud, waste or abuse if the Commonwealth determines that the imposition would not adversely impact beneficiaries' access to medical assistance.

On May 15, 2026, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced an imposition of a 6-month nationwide moratorium on the Medicare enrollment of hospices.

The Department has reviewed the risk level of hospice providers and any impact on access to hospice services and imposes a 6-month moratorium on the enrollment of any new hospices. Hospices must be Medicare-certified to enroll in the Commonwealth's MA Program and be able to continue to meet the Medicare conditions for participation as a hospice.

Public Comment

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the Department of Human Services, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, c/o Regulations Coordinator, P.O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17120, RA-PWMAProgComments@pa.gov. Comments received within 30 days will be reviewed and considered for any subsequent moratoriums imposed on enrollment of newly enrolling hospice agencies in the MA Program.

For more information, please review the June 27, 2026, edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.