The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on February 14, 2026, opened access to six years of Medicaid provider-level data, now publicly available for analysis on the HHS Open Data platform. Pulled from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) TMSIS system, the data span the COVID-19 pandemic with provider level detail by procedure code. More here.

A letter from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz to Governor Gavin Newsom has escalated tensions around fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid program. Details here.

This overview of telehealth flexibilities’ fate–short-term and farther out–references discussions of potential moratoriums on hospice enrollment, and also changes to the Medicaid program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding bill including streamlining provider enrollment across state lines for providers that have been determined to have a low risk of fraudulent activity. Read more.

Included in the HHS funding bill passed in the House on January 22, 2026 are some key Medicaid provisions, such as streamlining provider enrollment across state lines for providers that have been determined to have a low risk of fraudulent activity, processes for confirmation of eligibility for active military families, and additional attention to disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments.It now faces a vote in the Senate before January 30 to avoid a second lapse in federal appropriations. More here.

This summary references Republican members of the committee focused on waste, fraud, and abuse at HUD, as well as efforts to deregulate housing production and investigate immigration-related impacts on housing costs. Read more.

A January 8, 2026, Health Subcommittee for the House Committee on Energy & Commerce hearing to discuss legislative proposals focused on supporting patient access to Medicare services; topics covered included a discussion of protecting rural communities, and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare services. More here.

Leadership across House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Ways and Means on January 12, 2026, sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding concerns with home health and hospice fraud in Los Angeles, CA. Details here.

Though specifics of the RFI are not clear at this time, we can deduce that the focus will be related to the effectiveness and opportunities for improving anti-kickback statutes as well as addressing health care provider inducements of beneficiaries and the civil monetary penalties (CMPs) available to address these issues. More here.

LeadingAge national and LeadingAge California, along with federal partner organizations and providers, on January 9, 2026, participated in roundtable discussions held in Los Angeles and hosted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Administrator Oz, Deputy Administrator and Head of the Center of Program Integrity Kim Brandt, and Deputy Administrator and Head of the Center for Medicare Chris Klomp . The topic: fraud in the hospice and home health programs in Los Angeles. Details here.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last month took a stealthy approach to its December 2025 addition of two states to its existing list of four initially targeted as participants in two initiatives: the enhanced oversight program for new hospices and expanded prepayment review of existing hospices. More here.

The White House on January 8, 2026, announced the creation of a new division within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat what the White House called “rampant” fraud across the country. More here.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on December 12, 2025 announced two immigration policy updates: termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Ethiopia and the end of Family Reunification Parole (FRP) programs for nationals of certain countries. Similar to its actions earlier this year when DHS terminated Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole programs, the agency has stated its intent for parole to be granted on a case-by-case basis, citing security and fraud concerns. Details here.

A look at what’s in the home health final rule, including finalization of further provider enrollment changes to combat waste, fraud and abuse. Read more.

This latest policy change follows the October 30 publication of an Interim Final Rule that eliminated automatic extensions for Employment Authorization Documents renewals in many categories. According to the administration, these latest changes are intended to increase the frequency of vetting and screening, which will help deter fraud and identify individuals who may pose security risks. Details here.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 19 launched what is described as a “new market-based research challenge” targeting fraud, opening a month-long submissions opportunity. More here.

On August 6, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at educating the public and providing vital reporting resources to individuals and families who may have been impacted by hospice fraud. More here.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 23 posted a new Hospice Fast Facts sheet to inform the public about significant enhancements to address hospice fraud. Details here.

The White House on March 25, 2025, issued Executive Order Protecting America’s Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse that calls for new procedures to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in government spending. These procedures include processes that will allow the Department of the Treasury greater oversight into the disbursement of funds through pre-certification verification systems, access by the Secretary to agencies’ records, consolidation and centralization of payment systems, and reporting improper payments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These activities impact spending from the United States General Fund, which includes both Medicare and Medicaid spending. More here.