AHA joins LeadingAge-led coalition urging CMS to revise Medicare provider enrollment proposals

The AHA Aug. 31 joined a coalition led by LeadingAge and other national healthcare organizations in submitting comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Medicare provider enrollment provisions of the calendar year 2027 home health prospective payment system proposed rule. The coalition urged CMS to reconsider proposed Medicare enrollment policies that would expand denial and revocation authorities for providers and suppliers. While supporting efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse, the groups warned that the proposals could impose severe consequences on legitimate providers for technical errors or third-party conduct beyond their control, potentially limiting beneficiary access to care. The letter recommends that CMS pursue the enrollment changes through standalone rulemaking, distinguish intentional misconduct from good-faith mistakes, establish reasonable due-diligence protections for third-party relationships, and preserve providers' rights to correct errors and respond before facing enrollment sanctions.