Florida Medicaid also issues moratorium on new DME providers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Agency for Health Care Administration announced on March 26 that it has issued a temporary moratorium for the enrollment of new durable medical equipment (DME) providers in the Florida Medicaid system. The agency says the moratorium will combat fraud and safeguard taxpayer dollars, while ensuring quality access to care.

The moratorium will remain in place for an initial six-month period.

“The agency is continually looking at ways to strengthen fraud detection and prevention strategies and over the last year, we have taken intentional enforcement action to hold providers accountable and safeguard taxpayer dollars,” said Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris. “This moratorium is just one example of the many efforts being put in place to curb fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid program and to ensure Medicaid recipients are able to receive care from high quality providers.”

The Agency for Health Care Administration will continue processing provider applications submitted on or before March 20, 2026. Existing providers may continue to provide and bill for authorized services.

The agency says it is responsible for administering the licensure and regulation of nearly 50,000 health care facilities.

The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a six-month moratorium on enrollments of new DME providers in February. The agency said it would allow each state to decide whether some form of a moratorium would be appropriate for their respective Medicaid and CHIP programs.

"Each state has greater expertise and experience with their pool of DME provider types, including the requirements for each type of DME provider, than CMS," it stated. "Nevertheless, CMS encourages each state to, as appropriate, implement a DME provider moratorium tailored to the specifics of their beneficiary population as well as any geographic considerations. Additionally, CMS is offering every state and territory the opportunity to consult with CMS on the prospect of implementing a Medicaid- or CHIP-based (or both) DME moratorium in their jurisdictions."

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