TALLAHASSEE, Florida—Florida has issued a six-month moratorium for the enrollment of new durable medical equipment (DME) providers in its state Medicaid program, following on the heels of a recent federal action.
“The (Florida Agency for Health Care Administration) 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,” agency Secretary Shevaun Harris said in Thursday’s announcement of the move. “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.”
In a video posted on social media, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said CMS approved Florida’s move and praised it, saying the state has gone on the offense, “putting real teeth behind enforcement … making it clear the free ride is over.”
“What we’re seeing in parts of South Florida isn’t just suspicious, it’s outrageous,” Oz said in the video filmed on a palm-tree-lined sidewalk. "The number of questionable durable medical equipment suppliers—folks that send you canes or wheelchairs—has exploded, especially here in Palm Beach and adjacent Miami-Dade County. In some neighborhoods … there are twice as many suppliers as McDonald’s. That’s not a coincidence, that’s a red flag.”
As with the federal moratorium, the state agency will not accept any new applications for DME providers for Florida Medicaid enrollment. It will continue processing DME, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies provider applications submitted on or before March 20, 2026. Existing DME providers may continue to provide and bill for authorized services.
If beneficiaries have difficulty accessing services, they can contact the Florida Medicaid Helpline at (877) 254-1055 for assistance.
For those “operating in the care-at-home space, the development is another clear sign that federal and state officials are intensifying program integrity efforts in high-risk service categories,” the Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF) said in a release explaining the move to members.
HCAF said the action reflects increased federal and state focus on program integrity in high-risk service areas and signals:
- Heightened scrutiny of certain service categories
- Tighter controls on new provider enrollment
- Continued emphasis on documentation, ownership transparency, and billing integrity
“The moratorium is narrow in scope but directionally significant,” the association wrote. “Providers should view this as part of a broader enforcement environment and ensure compliance practices are audit-ready.”