News: CMS delegated authority to exclude individuals, entities from federal healthcare programs

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has delegated CMS certain statutory authorities to exclude individuals and entities from federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. This is effective immediately, as announced by the HHS in a Federal Register notice.

The delegation grants CMS similar authority to exclude and permanently ban providers as the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) has following investigations. It will be exercised in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations.

Excluded from this delegation is the authority to conduct hearings and to issue regulations, and this delegation does not affect or diminish the previous delegation of these authorities to the OIG. It does not affect any actions taken in accordance with that earlier delegation.

Editor’s note: To read the full notice, click here. To read additional coverage from the American Hospital Association, click here.