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CMS Imposes Moratorium on Home Health and Hospice Enrollment
On May 13, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a six-month, nationwide moratorium on new Medicare enrollment for home health agencies (HHAs) and hospice providers, effective immediately. The moratorium, implemented in coordination with Vice President JD Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force, reflects the Trump Administration’s continuing effort to address what it characterizes as systemic fraud in the home-based care sector. It is the third nationwide Medicare enrollment moratorium imposed by the current administration and the second in 2026. This Health Capital Topics article examines the scope and legal mechanics of the moratorium, its implications for healthcare transactions, and the industry reaction to the action. (Read more...)
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OIG Clarifies AKS Liability Beyond FMV and Stark
On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) updated its General Questions Regarding Certain Fraud and Abuse Authorities Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for the first time since July 2024. The update revised one existing FAQ and added another, addressing what the OIG describes as persistent misconceptions about the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), its relationship to the physician self-referral law (Stark Law), and the role of Fair Market Value (FMV) in evaluating financial arrangements with referral sources. This Health Capital Topics article discusses the OIG’s updated guidance and its implications for parties that rely on FMV opinions in structuring healthcare arrangements. (Read more...)
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CMS Proposes Sweeping Limits on Medicaid Supplemental Payments
On May 20, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule that would cap Medicaid managed care state directed payments (SDPs) and certain fee-for-service (FFS) supplemental practitioner payments at 100% of the published Medicare rate, or 110% in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). CMS projects that the rule, together with provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), would reduce Medicaid spending by $774.8 billion over ten years, of which $510.1 billion would be the federal government’s share. This Health Capital Topics article examines the proposed rule’s scope, key payment limit provisions, and initial industry response. (Read more...)
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Valuation of Orthopedic Services:
Technological Advancements
Prior installments of this five-part Health Capital Topics series on the valuation of orthopedic services examined the competitive landscape, reimbursement trends, and the regulatory environment of the orthopedic specialty. This fifth and final installment examines the technological advancements affecting orthopedic services, including developments in robotic surgery, arthroscopy, diagnostic imaging, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence (AI). (Read more...)
| 2025 Health Capital Topics Book | |
Be sure to check out the 14th edition of our annual Health Capital Topics eBook where we provide insights on key issues in the dynamic U.S. healthcare industry and their potential impact on healthcare organizations and services.
As always, we appreciate the many comments and expressions of support for this research endeavor. HCC’s research is the foundation for all of our client engagements and firm as a whole. For any inquiries, please do not hesitate to email us at solutions@healthcapital.com or call us at 800-FYI-VALU.
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DOJ Reports Record $6.8 Billion in False Claims Act Recoveries authored by HCC's Todd A. Zigrang, MBA, MHA, FACHE, CVA, ASA, ABV, and Jessica Bailey-Wheaton, Esq., was published in the recent issue of QuckRead published by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
For more recently published material written by HCC, please visit www.healthcapital.com
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