August 2026 Top of Mind

Complete Model of Care training by December 31

If you work with UnitedHealthcare Community Plan/Optum Behavioral Health members eligible for BOTH Medicare and Medicaid – a program known as a Special Needs Plan (SNP) – you must complete Model of Care Training this year.

Why D-SNP training is required

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to ensure providers are equipped to meet the unique, complex medical and social needs of SNP members, who are often economically disadvantaged and medically underserved. To do so, it mandates that all special needs plans (SNPs) provide annual Model of Care training for both network and out-of-network providers who provide services to D-SNP members.

Important training details

• We encourage you to complete the training prior to engaging with SNP members.
• This training doesn’t apply if you see only UnitedHealthcare commercial plan members
• There is no universal Model Of Care training because care management processes vary across insurers. This means if you provide services to D-SNP members covered by different insurance plans, you may be asked to complete annual training by other Medicare insurers.
• CMS may also request an attestation of the initial and annual training

What you need to do before Dec. 31, 2026

1. Review the list of trainings from UnitedHealthcare and other affiliated insurance plans. Training is available for UnitedHealthcare, Alignment Health, Afterwood Health, Connecticare, Jefferson Health Plan, Medica and Mass General Brigham Health Plan.
2. Take the applicable training course(s). Be sure to complete the attestation instructions so that there is record of you completing this training. Attestations are reported monthly, as CMS may request a copy.

Questions?

Call Provider Services at 1-877-614-0484, 7 am – 7 pm CT, Monday through Friday.

You can also learn more about the CMS Model of Care training requirement by reading the SNP Model of Care Training FAQs.