Hospice

Hospice is the comprehensive, holistic program of palliative care for terminally ill patients and support for their families. Once a beneficiary elects hospice, they waive curative treatment for their terminal illness. CMS pays for hospice care as a Medicare Part A benefit. 

CMS received numerous reports of hospice fraud, waste, and abuse. 

The Provisional Period of Enhanced Oversight (PPEO) for hospice providers that are newly enrolling, reactivating, or undergoing a change of ownership began on July 13, 2023, in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas. Georgia and Ohio were added on December 30, 2025.

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mln7867599-period-enhanced-oversight-new-hospices-arizona-california-nevada-texas-georgia-ohio.pdf (PDF)

The Expanded Prepayment Review (EPR) of existing hospice providers began on September 17, 2024, in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas. Georgia and Ohio were added on December 30, 2025.

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mln7215293-expanded-prepayment-review-existing-hospices-arizona-california-nevada-texas-georgia-ohio.pdf (PDF)

These programs are important efforts to protect Medicare beneficiaries and the Trust Fund against bad actors.

For further information about either of these programs, see the list of Frequently Asked Questions available here (PDF).

The infographic above is available in PDF format here (PDF).