Medicare, Medicaid ban
Registered nurse Susan Eager discusses medication with a patient during a house call in Denver in a 2012 file photo. (John Moore/Getty Images / July 26, 2013)
New home health agencies in the Chicago and Miami areas and ambulance suppliers in the Houston area are being temporarily banned from enrolling in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cites the risk of fraud.

"While maintaining patients' access to care, we are putting would-be fraudsters on notice that we will find and stop them before they can attempt to bill Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP," CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said in a statement.

The agency said its decision was triggered by factors, including a disproportionate number of providers and suppliers relative to beneficiaries, a rapid increase in enrollment applications from providers and suppliers and extremely high utilization.

During the ban on new providers, CMS said it, along with the affected states, will monitor access to care to ensure that beneficiaries are receiving the care they need.

The agency said that over the last four years, the Obama Administration has recovered over $14.9 billion in healthcare fraud judgments, settlements, and administrative impositions.