The National Law Review: CMS imposes nationwide enrollment moratoria on hospices and home health agencies - what buyers sellers and operators need to know 
The National Law Review; by Margia Corner, Ashley Wheelock, Tammy Ward Woffenden, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP; 5/14/26 
... [Assuming readers have background information] ... Critically for some pending or proposed transactions, both moratoria block re-enrollment of hospices or HHAs undergoing a non-exempt change in majority ownership (CIMO) within 36 months of initial enrollment or the most recent CIMO. Such transactions require the entity to enroll as a brand-new provider.
... Both moratoria apply only to Medicare. However, CMS is encouraging states to consider parallel moratoria for Medicaid and CHIP, tailored to their beneficiary population and geographic considerations. CMS also noted that while some states previously enacted laws placing a moratorium on issuing new licenses in their state, those efforts cannot prevent new agencies or enrollments in other states and thus its nationwide moratoria are warranted.

JD Supra: CMS Nationwide Moratoria for new hospice and home health enrollments 
JD Supra; by Andrew Brenton, Zaina Niles, Bryan Nowicki, Adam Royal, Husch Blackwell LLP; 5/14/26 
... The Husch Blackwell Hospice & Palliative Care team is continuing to evaluate the full implications, scope, and effect of the moratoria, but here are a few key takeaways for providers:

1. Term: ...
2. Existing Applications: ...
3. Additional Locations: ...
4. Change of Location: ...
5. Transactions/Changes in Ownership: ...
6. Face-to-Face Encounters: ...

Moratorium a ‘sledgehammer’ approach in hospice fraud forcefield 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 5/14/26 
A temporary national moratorium has halted new hospice and home health enrollment in an effort to curb fraudulent activity in these industries. The hospice community has come forward in droves to examine the scope of potential benefits, and risks, to future access and quality. ... Applying a broad brush of regulatory enforcement could come with unintended challenges for legitimate providers, which represent the vast majority of hospices.

• Potential drawbacks, negative consequences ...
• Potential benefits ...
• Targeted data-driven strategies ...

Ohio nurses help hospice patients navigate end-of-life decisions 
Public News Service; by Nadia Ramlagan; 5/15/26 
On the heels of National Nurses Week, hospice nurses are raising awareness about access to compassionate end-of-life care and medical decisions in the Black community. ... Ottamissiah "Missy" Moore, a longtime hospice nurse and member of the African American Leadership Council for Compassion & Choices, said her personal experience relying on hospice care showed her how important it can be for families. ... A recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found around 34% of Black study participants died while using hospice services compared to more than 46% of their white counterparts. Moore added the disparity echoes other racial inequities in health care, such as nonwhite people being less likely to receive pain medications and higher rates of maternal mortality. 

Hospice of Scotland County Golf Tournament celebrates 40 years 
The Laurinburg Exchange, Laurinburg, NC; by Travis Petty, Jr.; 5/7/26 
The 40th Annual Hospice of Scotland County Golf Tournament once again made an impact on Laurinburg through its annual support and fundraising at the Scotch Meadows Country Club, sponsored by Eaton Golf Pride. The two-day event took place from May 5-6 with the mission of creating and operating a patient-centered, integrated system to provide safe, high-quality, compassionate and sustainable health care, and raised over $180,000—a $14,842 increase from last year.

‘Boots & Bling’ raises over $115K for care in Calvert County 
Hospice of the Chesapeake, Pasadena, MD; Press Release; 5/14/26 
Donning denim, cowboy boots and plenty of sparkle, the Calvert County community came together to raise more than $115,000 for Hospice of the Chesapeake at “Boots & Bling, A Culinary Experience”. The event was held May 9 ... Around 180 guests enjoyed international and Chesapeake Bay cuisine while learning about the mission of the nonprofit organization. Funds from this year’s event will support programs that teach, support, and guide Calvert County people experiencing serious illness and their families.

CMS leader explains hospice fraud, Medicare risks, and the future of healthcare | part two 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Kim Brandt; 5/15/26 
In Part Two of this compelling TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership conversation, Kim Brandt, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Administrator at CMS, joins Chris Comeaux and pulls back the curtain on one of the most urgent challenges facing healthcare today: hospice fraud, Medicare abuse, and the evolving future of end-of-life care. Brandt offers an inside look at how CMS is aggressively combating fraudulent hospice operations, recovering billions in suspect payments, and leveraging AI and machine learning to protect both patients and the integrity of Medicare. 

Ohio taking new steps to target Medicaid fraud 
Spectrum News 1, Cleveland and Columbus, OH; by Aliah Keller; 5/14/26
Ohio is taking new steps to crack down on Medicaid fraud, with a focus on home-healthcare and hospice providers.
What You Need To Know

• Ohio is seeking a six-month pause on new home-healthcare and hospice businesses becoming Medicaid providers
• State leaders say the new efforts are aimed at fraud, waste and abuse within the Medicaid system
• Ohio Medicaid said it has referred 769 cases for prosecution for fraud in the last five years

Editor's Note: This is for Medicaid, not Medicare. See today's post from The National Law Review about states requesting similar actions from Medicaid: The National Law Review: CMS imposes nationwide enrollment moratoria on hospices and home health agencies - what buyers sellers and operators need to know

Enhabit completes previously announced acquisition by Kinderhook Industries to become a private company 
BusinessWire, Dallas and New York; Press Release; 5/15/26 
Enhabit, Inc. (“Enhabit” or the “Company”), a leading home health and hospice care provider, and Kinderhook Industries, LLC (“Kinderhook”), a middle market private equity firm, today announced the successful completion of the previously announced transaction in which Enhabit was acquired by Kinderhook for $13.80 per share in cash. As a result of the transaction, Enhabit has become a private company. Its common stock will no longer be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, effective immediately.

Hospitality exec brings hotel playbook to senior living, hits 97% occupancy 
Pacific Business News, Hawaii; by Cathy Cruz-George; 5/14/26 
Mark Tsuda had three decades of hospitality experience when he joined the opening team of Ilima at Leihano, a luxury senior living community in Kapolei, in 2016. He previously was a regional executive for Aston Hotels & Resorts, ... Ilima at Leihano - which provides independent living, assisted living and memory care - has held an occupancy rate of between 95% and 97% over the past six years, supported by 92 employees who balance hotel-style services with healthcare needs and recreation. ... If a resident is in hospice, they can stay with us. Hospice is outsourced to local providers like Malama Ola and Island Hospice, ...

Week of Kindness: Beautifying Hospice of Lansing's courtyard 
Fox 47 News, Lansing, MI; by Larry Wallace; 5/15/26 
... Hospice of Lansing is one of the organizations taking part in this year's week of kindness. ... To celebrate, Hospice of Lansing volunteers beautified the facility's courtyard, planting flowers and cleaning windows. [From the reporter,] I got to take part in the effort, filling up bird feeders alongside volunteers — including Chad Beckett, who came out to give back to the facility that supported him and his mother. 

I don't think education is so much about making a living, it's about making a person. ~ Tara Westover
Editor's Note: This month, we celebrate the many graduations unfolding throughout your lives — honoring both accomplishments and the relationships, sacrifices, encouragement, and love that helped make these moments possible.