The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a six-month moratorium on new Medicare hospice and home health enrollments to combat systemic fraud and protect federal funds.
The Trump administration has moved to tighten oversight of federal healthcare spending by announcing a six-month moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the freeze is a direct response to an ongoing fraud investigation, signaling an aggressive stance against bad actors. This administrative pause reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility and the protection of the Medicare Trust Fund. By halting new entries, regulators aim to root out shell companies that exploit the hospice benefit, ensuring federal dollars reach legitimate patients rather than fraudulent administrators.
While the administration focuses on oversight, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to advance new pharmaceutical options. On May 13, 2026, the agency approved BeOne Medicines’ BEQALZI (sonrotoclax) as the first BCL2 inhibitor for patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma. Designed for greater potency and selectivity, the drug offers a new tool for patients who have exhausted other treatments. This approval marks a significant milestone in oncology, providing a foundational therapy that promises improved tolerability and convenience over existing treatments in its class.
The FDA remains at a crossroads as the administration vets candidates for a new commissioner. The search focuses on leaders capable of rebuilding public trust and driving reforms in drug-approval processes. High-profile voices emphasize the need for a leader who can modernize the regulatory framework, balancing rapid innovation with the rigorous standards required for public safety. This transition is critical as the agency faces a brain drain in key divisions, potentially slowing the approval of life-saving treatments if left unaddressed.
These policy shifts occur against a backdrop of complex global and economic pressures. While U.S. drug overdose deaths fell for a third consecutive year in 2025, health officials remain wary of potent new substances entering the supply. Furthermore, the IMF has warned that escalating conflict in the Middle East could push the global economy toward a recession, threatening the stability of healthcare funding. Domestically, Gallup polling shows a significant optimism gap among young Americans, with economic uncertainty directly impacting health coverage and access to care.
In Illinois, a recent report highlighted the struggles of Black youth in Chicago and Cook County who face high rates of joblessness. These socio-economic factors are inextricably linked to health outcomes, as financial stability remains a primary driver of an individual’s ability to navigate the healthcare system. The administration’s efforts to curb fuel costs through a federal gasoline tax suspension reflect a broader strategy to provide relief to families facing rising costs of living, which in turn impacts their ability to afford medical care.
For the American patient, the current trajectory suggests a dual focus: expanding access to medical breakthroughs like BEQALZI while purging the system of waste and fraud. The six-month moratorium on hospice enrollment signals that the era of unchecked expansion in federal programs is being replaced by a disciplined, results-oriented approach. As the search for a new FDA commissioner continues, the goal remains a healthcare system that prioritizes the patient, respects the taxpayer, and fosters the innovation necessary to meet 21st-century challenges.
Susan Carter serves as a Senior Correspondent for Just Right News, where she leads the network’s comprehensive coverage of Health, Medicine, and Public Policy. With a career dedicated to dissecting the complexities of the American healthcare system, Susan brings a principled perspective to the most pressing debates of the day. Her reporting is characterized by a commitment to individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and a healthy skepticism of government overreach, making her a vital voice for audiences seeking clarity in an increasingly regulated landscape.
Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Susan’s professional outlook is deeply informed by the values of the American heartland. Growing up in the Twin Cities, she witnessed firsthand the importance of community-driven solutions and the resilience of the individual. This Midwestern foundation instilled in her a firm belief that the best answers to public policy challenges often come from local innovation and personal responsibility rather than top-down federal mandates. Her background allows her to translate complex legislative jargon into stories that resonate with families who value common sense and local autonomy.
Now based in Baltimore, Maryland, Susan operates from a unique vantage point at the intersection of medical innovation and urban policy. Living and working in a city renowned for its world-class medical institutions and significant public health challenges, she has a front-row seat to the realities of the modern healthcare landscape. Her proximity to these hubs of research and policy allows her to scrutinize how government intervention affects the quality of care and the freedom of medical professionals. In Baltimore, she sees the tangible results of policy decisions, using the city as a lens through which to examine the broader national health debate and the impact of federal spending on local communities.
As the lead for the acclaimed feature series “The Cost of Care,” Susan dives deep into the economic realities facing patients and providers alike. Her work focuses on the necessity of price transparency, the benefits of market competition, and the preservation of the sacred doctor-patient relationship. She is a staunch advocate for the idea that a well-informed public is the best defense against bureaucratic inefficiency. Through this series, she has exposed the hidden drivers of rising medical expenses, always seeking to empower the individual consumer over the massive institution.
Susan’s reporting on public policy is characterized by a commitment to rigorous inquiry and a focus on constitutional limits. Whether she is analyzing new pharmaceutical regulations, investigating the impact of federal health mandates, or exploring the future of medical technology, her goal remains the same: to provide Just Right News audiences with the facts they need to navigate a complex world. By blending her Midwestern sensibilities with the insights gained from her base in Maryland, Susan Carter has become a trusted authority for those who believe that personal freedom and public health are inextricably linked. Her work continues to challenge the status quo, advocating for a system that respects the taxpayer and prioritizes the patient.