LeadingAge Joins CMS’ Oz in Hospice, Home Health Fraud Roundtables
LeadingAge National and LeadingAge California, along with federal partner organizations and providers, on January 9, 2026, participated in roundtable discussions held in Los Angeles and hosted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Administrator Oz, Deputy Administrator and Head of the Center of Program Integrity Kim Brandt, and Deputy Administrator and Head of the Center for Medicare Chris Klomp. The topic: fraud in the hospice and home health programs in Los Angeles. Though no public announcements emerged during the meeting, CMS seemed to be interested in enrollment moratoria, expanding the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD), terminating the ability of those suspected of fraud to transfer money out of the country, and increased investigations. LeadingAge has been working consistently on issues related to fraud and abuse in hospice and home health since 2022. Read more about the meeting in this LeadingAge article. See our press release on the meeting here.
CMS to Address Data Issues on Nursing Home Care Compare
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Quality & Safety Special Alert Memo on January 9 acknowledging recent issues with data displayed on Nursing Home Care Compare. As LeadingAge previously shared, the transition of the long-term care survey process from QIES to iQIES in July 2025 resulted in discrepancies in health inspection data when Nursing Home Care Compare and related data sites were updated in November 2025 following the federal government shutdown. Inspection data discrepancies were largely resolved in December; however, LeadingAge members continued to observe unusually high complaint totals in the health inspections domain. LeadingAge addressed these issues to CMS and CMS announced in the January 9 memo that complaint totals will be removed from Nursing Home Care Compare in February 2026 as they work to identify a way to more accurately display information. LeadingAge appreciates CMS’ attention to this issue and efforts to improve data accuracy.
Senators Increase Pressure on UnitedHealth After Further Evidence of Preventable SNF Deaths
On January 7, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a follow-up letter to UnitedHealth Group (UHG) CEO Stephen Hemsley, stating they were renewing their inquiry “with heightened alarm” after the insurer provided an insufficient response to their initial query in August 2025 around allegations that skilled nursing patients died as a result of a push to avoid hospitalizations. An article from the Guardian found that UHG’s subsidiary, Optum, bullied and financially incentivized nursing homes to disregard requests for hospital transfers in their institutional special needs plans (I-SNs). The Senators’ letter warns that if UnitedHealth fails to fully respond, they “will pursue answers to this critical inquiry using all tools at the Committee’s disposal.”
In December, the Guardian followed up their initial reporting with detailing three cases in which nursing home residents allegedly died after Optum delayed or denied hospital transfers. LeadingAge has spoken with Senator Wyden’s office about this inquiry and emphasized our members experience and the value of provider run I-SNPs.
Nominate a Growing Leader for the 2026 LeadingAge Leadership Award
As we open nominations for the third annual LeadingAge Leadership Award, our goal is to elevate and celebrate those in our sector who are in the middle of their own leadership journeys—people whose unique attributes make a significant difference in their organizations or local communities. Take the time to nominate a deserving leader. Nominations are due February 27, 2026, and the requirements may take some time to compile—examples of exceptional practices, letters of recommendation or support, or details of influence in their organization/community—so learn more today and prepare your nominations. Additional information is here.
