Part B Ambulance and Home Health Agencies Moratoria Extended in Parts of NJ

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced another six month extension of moratoria on new home health agencies, home health agency sub-units, and Part B ground ambulance suppliers in certain locations throughout the country.

Beginning on July 29, 2015, and for six months thereafter, new enrollments or applications for additional locations for home health agencies, home health agency sub-units, and Part B ground ambulance suppliers that provide services to Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries will be denied pursuant to 42 CFR §424.570(c) in areas of New Jersey and Pennsylvania in Philadelphia area, as well as parts of Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas, in order to prevent and combat fraud, waste and abuse.

The federal register identifies the following affected areas by service type (80 FR 44967):

Part B Ambulance Moratoria

NJ Counties – Burlington, Camden, Delaware, Gloucester.
PA Counties – Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia.
Houston, TX area – Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Waller.

Home Health Agency Moratoria

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward county.
Miami, FL – Monroe, and Miami-Dade counties.
Chicago, IL  – Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.
Detroit, MI – Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.
Dallas, TX – Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Tarrant counties.
Houston, TX – Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties.

If you have questions regarding CMS moratoria, Medicare/Medicaid enrollment, revalidation, or exclusion, or have other health law questions, please contact our office.