PRESS RELEASE: Joint Letter to CMS To Take Action And Protect Legitimitate Providers
In Fight Against Fraud, Leading National Organizations Urge CMS to Take Action While Protecting Legitimate Providers and Patient Access
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), LeadingAge, LeadingAge California, and the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) in a March 25, 2026 letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), commend the agency’s actions to protect Medicare beneficiaries, preserve the integrity of the hospice and home health benefits, and root out bad actors who are exploiting the program and harming patients and families. At the same time, the associations emphasize the need for a carefully targeted federal response to protect current and prospective patients, and preserve access to care delivered by trustworthy providers.
“Recent national media coverage and federal enforcement actions have rightly focused attention on a serious fraud crisis in the Medicare hospice and home health programs, concentrated overwhelmingly in Los Angeles County and the surrounding Southern California region,” the organizations write. “It is critical to underscore, however, that this crisis is the result of a subset of bad actors exploiting regulatory gaps, and not a failure of the hospice or home health models of care. The overwhelming majority of providers serve their communities with integrity.”
The Alliance, LeadingAge, LeadingAge California, and CAHSAH stand united in their ongoing commitment to furthering program integrity. Together, these organizations represent over 1,500 hospice and home health providers with over 10,000 locations serving millions of Medicare beneficiaries across the country, including tens of thousands of patients and families in California. Our members have built their reputations and their organizations on a commitment to compassionate, high-quality care.
“We commend CMS for its continued focus on rooting out fraud and preserving the integrity of the home health and hospice benefits,” said Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the Alliance. “As these critical efforts continue, we must consider the downstream effects on reputable providers and the people they care for. Heightened oversight and added administrative complexity may cause physicians and practitioners to think twice about making referrals, and families, already navigating difficult decisions, could feel increased hesitation if messaging around bad actors overshadows the broader reality of high-quality care.”
“Home health and hospice services are relied on by millions of older adults and families annually. Ensuring program integrity is critical–and without question that requires uncovering, addressing and stopping fraudulent actions. At the same time, acknowledgement of and support for compliant providers is also needed,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit and mission-driven providers of aging services. “Gross overgeneralizations about the home health and hospice sectors unnecessarily undermine trust and do a disservice to the vast majority of providers who deliver compassionate, compliant care each day. We urge CMS to take a strong and balanced approach to enforcement.”
The associations look forward to continued dialogue and collaboration as CMS develops and implements the additional program integrity measures to root out, address and put an end to fraud.
About the National Alliance for Care at Home
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.
About LeadingAge
We represent more than 5,300 nonprofit and mission-driven aging services providers serving older adults and touching millions of lives every day. From our national headquarters in Washington, DC, and in collaboration with our state partners representing members active in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, we use advocacy, education, applied research, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership encompasses the entire continuum of aging services, including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, affordable housing, retirement communities, adult day programs, hospice, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and home-based care. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information, visit leadingage.org.
About CAHSAH
The California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) is a nonprofit association representing California’s licensed home health, home care, and hospice providers across the state. Established in 1966, CAHSAH is one of the oldest and largest state home care associations in the nation with a long tradition of service dedicated to promoting quality home care and enhancing the effectiveness of the home care industry.
CAHSAH represents hundreds of provider locations including Medicare Certified and licensed home health agencies, hospices, providers of non-medical personal care service in the home, home infusion pharmacies, and over 100 affiliate members including suppliers of products, computer companies, consulting firms, and insurance providers. For more information, visit www.cahsah.org/.
About LeadingAge California
Founded in 1961, LeadingAge California is the western region’s leading advocate for mission-driven housing, care, and services for older adults. With over 800 members across California, Hawai’i and Nevada, including providers of affordable senior housing, residential care facilities for the elderly (assisted living), life plan communities, skilled nursing care, home and community-based services, home health, and hospice care.
Press Contact
National Alliance for Care at Home
communications@allianceforcareathome.org
Hannah Kristan | 202-355-1647
LeadingAge
Lisa Sanders | 202-508-9407
CAHSAH
Sabrina Freeman | 916-277-0724