As CMS implements a six-month moratorium on new home health and hospice provider enrollments, SonderCare urges families to prioritize quality home care equipment as a stable foundation for long-term care continuity.
O’FALLON, MO — Aug 8, 2026 — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on May 13, 2026, a six-month nationwide moratorium blocking new home health agencies and hospice providers from enrolling in Medicare, citing widespread fraud in a sector that has grown rapidly over the past several years. As families and caregivers consider what the regulatory pause means for home-based care access, SonderCare — a manufacturer of premium home hospital beds — is calling attention to what remains within families’ control: the quality and reliability of the care environment itself.
The Moratorium: What CMS Announced
Federal regulators described the enrollment freeze as a necessary response to patterns of abuse in a sector where Medicare expenditures have grown substantially. In 2024, Medicare hospice spending totaled $28.3 billion, with approximately 1.8 million beneficiaries receiving services. The number of hospice providers grew at an average annual rate of 7.8% between 2019 and 2023 — a pace that regulators say allowed fraudulent operators to enter the market alongside legitimate providers.
CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz characterized the problem in direct terms. “We’ve seen systemic and deeply troubling fraud in the hospice and home health space, with bad actors exploiting vulnerable Medicare patients and stealing taxpayer dollars,” Oz stated in the agency’s announcement. In Los Angeles alone, CMS suspended $70 million in payments to 773 hospices and 23 home health agencies flagged for suspected abuse.
The moratorium, effective immediately and expected to remain in place for six months, prohibits new applications for initial Medicare enrollment from home health agencies and hospice providers and restricts certain changes in majority ownership. Existing enrolled providers are not affected — agencies and hospices already serving Medicare beneficiaries can continue doing so without interruption.
Alongside the enrollment freeze, CMS announced enhanced oversight measures: heightened scrutiny in states identified as elevated fraud risks — Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas — the launch of a new publicly available hospice scoring system, and expanded pre- and post-claim review of home health agency billing in select states.
Why the Equipment Foundation Matters
The policy announcement highlights a reality that home care professionals and family caregivers know well: when provider availability is in flux, the quality of the home care environment itself becomes the consistent variable families can rely on.
“When the systems around home care face uncertainty — whether from regulatory changes or shifts in provider availability — families need to know there’s something solid at the center of the care environment,” said Ben Martin, President of SonderCare. “That foundation is the equipment. A hospital-grade bed that’s safe, reliable, and built for real care needs doesn’t pause — it’s there every day, regardless of what’s happening in the broader healthcare landscape.”
For the 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries and countless additional families navigating home-based care without Medicare hospice coverage, the six-month window ahead may require more planning and more self-reliance in building a care environment that functions well. SonderCare’s Aura line of home hospital beds is designed precisely for this role. Built by an FDA-registered medical device establishment and certified to International Hospital Standard, Aura beds bring hospital-grade functionality into residential settings.
Features including FallSafe ultra-low height technology — lowering the platform to just 10 inches above the floor to significantly reduce fall risk — along with full positioning capabilities including Zero Gravity, Cardiac Chair, and caregiver-height hi-lo adjustment address the core clinical needs most commonly managed in the home setting. These are the same functions that home health aides and hospice nurses rely on during in-home visits — available around the clock through the bed itself.
Equipping the Home Care Environment
For families assessing how to sustain quality home care independent of provider network availability, SonderCare’s product line addresses a range of care levels and living situations:
- Aura Premium Hospital Bed ($6,999): Full hospital-certified positioning suite, FallSafe ultra-low height, 500 lb capacity, Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positioning
- Aura Platinum Hospital Bed ($8,499): All Aura Premium features with fully upholstered Crypton fabric side panels for a residential aesthetic that preserves dignity and home feel
- Aura Companion Bed ($12,999): Split king design enabling couples to sleep side by side while each side operates independently — accommodating distinct care needs without requiring separate rooms
“Home care starts with the environment,” Martin said. “When a family can create a safe, properly equipped space, they gain stability that holds even when circumstances around them change.”
White-glove delivery and professional installation — with expedited and rush options available in as little as one to three business days — help families establish a properly equipped care space quickly when the need is urgent.
Looking Ahead
The CMS moratorium is expected to remain in effect through late 2026 as fraud investigations proceed and new oversight mechanisms take hold. Industry observers have noted the action may signal the beginning of broader regulatory intervention across the home health and hospice sector.
For families currently in the process of care planning — whether for aging parents, individuals requiring extended recovery support, or loved ones needing ongoing care at home — the months ahead reinforce the importance of investing directly in the home care environment. Equipment of genuine clinical quality provides a layer of continuity that remains stable through provider access constraints, regulatory shifts, and changing family circumstances.
Families can explore SonderCare’s full range of home hospital beds, mattresses, and care accessories at www.sondercare.com or view the complete bed lineup at www.sondercare.com/beds/.
About SonderCare
SonderCare is a premium home hospital bed manufacturer dedicated to enhancing safety, comfort, and dignity for individuals aging in place or requiring home care. With over 25 years of healthcare expertise, SonderCare’s hospital-grade beds — built by an FDA-registered medical device establishment and certified to International Hospital Standard — combine medical functionality with furniture-grade residential design. The company’s product line includes the Aura Premium, Aura Platinum, and Aura Companion beds, featuring FallSafe ultra-low height technology, full positioning suites, and white-glove delivery service. For more information, visit www.sondercare.com.
Media Contact
Ben Martin
President, SonderCare
info@sondercare.com
www.sondercare.com
