WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a request for information seeking public feedback on potential regulatory changes aimed at combating healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse across federal health programs, according to the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.
The request for information, published in the Federal Register on February 27, 2026, focuses on CMS's Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare initiative, commonly known as CRUSH. The agency is soliciting input on modifications to provider enrollment procedures, medical review processes, audit protocols, and payment suspension policies, as reported by advocacy.sba.gov. Comments must be submitted by March 30, 2026.
Scope of Proposed Changes
According to the request for information, CMS is seeking feedback on multiple areas of program integrity oversight. The agency asked stakeholders to identify existing statutory authorities that could be improved to prevent fraudulent actors from participating in Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The request for information specifically solicits input on potential alterations to provider enrollment requirements, including revocation procedures, as well as changes to investigation and audit processes. CMS is also requesting feedback on whether the agency should establish regulatory requirements allowing Medicare Advantage organizations and Part D prescription drug plan sponsors to implement their own payment suspensions, according to the federal notice.
The agency asked respondents to suggest modifications to existing requirements, policies, regulations, memoranda, administrative orders, and sub-regulatory guidance documents that could promote payment accuracy and efficiency. CMS also requested recommendations on how the agency and its contractors could improve processes to effectively deter fraud, waste, and abuse.
White House Fraud Prevention Announcement
The request for information followed a February 25, 2026 White House announcement on anti-fraud measures. Vice President J.D. Vance, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced three major enforcement actions, according to cms.gov.
CMS deferred $259.5 million in federal Medicaid matching funds to Minnesota, including $243.8 million related to unsupported or potentially fraudulent claims and $15.4 million for claims involving individuals lacking satisfactory immigration status, as reported by the National Law Review. The agency also implemented a six-month nationwide moratorium on new enrollment of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supply companies in Medicare.
"CMS is done trying to catch fraudsters with their hands in the cookie jar—instead, we're padlocking the jar and letting them starve," Administrator Oz stated, according to the National Law Review.
2025 Enforcement Results
CMS reported significant fraud prevention achievements during 2025. The agency suspended $5.7 billion in suspected fraudulent Medicare payments and prevented approximately $1.5 billion in fraudulent billing by durable medical equipment suppliers, according to cms.gov. The agency revoked 5,586 providers and suppliers from federal health programs and referred 372 fraud cases totaling $3.7 billion to law enforcement agencies.
Secretary Kennedy described the administration's approach as replacing the traditional "pay-and-chase model with a real-time detect-and-deploy strategy using advanced AI tools," according to cms.gov.
Request for Information Details
The request for information asks stakeholders to provide input on improving CMS transparency regarding oversight and enforcement activities. According to the American Hospital Association, the agency is seeking recommendations on how to better communicate enforcement actions and program integrity measures to healthcare providers and the public.
The notice requests feedback on potential changes to existing processes used by CMS and its contractors to identify and prevent fraudulent billing. The agency is also soliciting input on modifications to payment suspension procedures and medical review protocols, as reported by BHM Healthcare Solutions.
Federal regulations currently provide CMS with authority to suspend payments to providers when the agency identifies credible allegations of fraud. The request for information explores whether additional regulatory changes could strengthen these existing authorities while maintaining appropriate due process protections for legitimate healthcare providers.
Industry Impact Considerations
The request for information specifically asks respondents to identify requirements, policies, or guidance documents that could be modified to reduce administrative burden while maintaining program integrity. According to advocacy.sba.gov, small businesses and healthcare entities are encouraged to submit comment letters addressing how proposed changes might impact their operations.
The American Hospital Association reported that the simultaneous announcement of the DMEPOS enrollment moratorium and the Minnesota Medicaid funding deferral demonstrates CMS's intention to implement immediate enforcement actions while developing longer-term regulatory changes through the CRUSH initiative.
Public Comment Process
Comments on the request for information must be submitted electronically or by mail to CMS by March 30, 2026. The reference number for the request is CMS-6098-NC, according to the National Law Review. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide specific examples and data supporting their recommendations for regulatory modifications.
The request for information represents a preliminary step in the regulatory process. Based on public feedback, CMS may develop a proposed rule containing specific regulatory changes that would undergo additional public comment periods before implementation.
Federal regulations require healthcare providers participating in Medicare and Medicaid to comply with enrollment, billing, and documentation requirements designed to prevent fraud and abuse. The CRUSH initiative seeks to strengthen these existing requirements through enhanced screening, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms.
Resources for Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers and facilities with questions about Medicare and Medicaid program integrity requirements can contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor or state Medicaid agency. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains information on enrollment requirements, billing policies, and fraud prevention at cms.gov.
Providers who wish to report suspected fraud or abuse can contact the HHS Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. Additional information about healthcare fraud prevention is available through the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association.
Healthcare facilities and providers are encouraged to review the full request for information in the Federal Register and submit detailed comments addressing specific aspects of the proposed policy changes before the March 30, 2026 deadline.
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