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CMS currently lists a temporary nationwide Medicare enrollment moratorium for Home Health Agencies (HHAs) and hospices, implemented May 13, 2026. The moratorium covers initial applications, including non-exempt changes in majority ownership (CIMOs) under 42 CFR 424.550(b); CMS says covered applications submitted after implementation will be denied. CMS states the initial period is six months and may be extended in six-month increments if CMS deems it necessary. The live CMS page does not state an extension, so check it for any later status update. This is an enrollment moratorium, not a general claims rule.

HETS (the HIPAA Eligibility Transaction System) processes electronic Medicare eligibility inquiries: a 270 is the request and a 271 is the response. The HETS2026-4 release change effective December 1, 2026, is limited to clearinghouse submitters—including software, billing, and EHR/PMS vendors—aggregating transactions under their own HETS Submitter ID. If the HETS EDI enrollment email is undeliverable for three consecutive monthly notices (October 1, November 1, and December 1, 2026), HETS will suspend that enrollment and reject the affected submitter’s 270 eligibility requests for the NPI, returning a 271 2100B AAA03=97 error until corrected. This is an eligibility-transaction change, not a general Medicare claims-submission change. Only the provider or supplier can update the email through its Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC); coordinate with the affected submitter if one is used.