Policy & oversight
Medicare Equipment Supplier Enrollment Reopens After Six-Month Freeze
CMS allowed its nationwide moratorium on new durable medical equipment supplier applications to expire August 27, lifting a freeze put in place to fight fraud in the home medical supply sector.
By the Goodsurance editorial teamAugust 28, 2026
For six months beginning February 27, 2026, CMS blocked new Medicare enrollment applications from durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier medical supply companies. The freeze applied across all states, territories, and the District of Columbia. CMS said the moratorium was part of anti-fraud efforts tied to the administration's anti-fraud task force, citing longstanding problems with fraud, waste, and abuse in the home equipment sector. On August 27, CMS chose not to extend the moratorium for another six months, allowing it to expire. National Provider Enrollment Contractors, including Palmetto GBA and Novitas Solutions, resumed accepting initial enrollment applications from the affected supplier categories. CMS urged suppliers that plan to participate in the upcoming Round 2028 of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program to submit enrollment applications as soon as possible, since processing can take time and delays could result in an application not clearing before the bidding window opens. Throughout the moratorium, existing enrolled DMEPOS suppliers continued to serve Medicare patients without interruption.
Medicare's six-month freeze on new home equipment supplier applications ended August 27. Existing enrolled suppliers were not affected during the freeze.
In plain words
For six months, Medicare stopped accepting applications from certain new home equipment suppliers. That freeze ended August 27. New suppliers can now apply to join Medicare. The freeze was meant to stop fraud. Suppliers who want to bid for Medicare equipment contracts in 2028 should apply soon, because the application process takes time.
Understand the basics first
Source: Federal Register
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