Among the most notable recommendations in CMS’s 2027 Proposed Rule is the removal of the “Special Needs Plan (SNP) Care Management” measure—a change that should come as no surprise given CMS’s persistent emphasis on clinical care, patient experience, and measurable impact.
HRAs Completions Alone Are Insufficient
While the SNP Care Management measure has historically served as a proxy for engagement through health risk assessments (HRAs), CMS’s direction now aligns with the recommendations Icario has been making for years: completions alone are insufficient. This shift challenges health plans to rethink strategies, moving beyond compliance toward interventions that demonstrably improve outcomes. Integrating HRA, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and care gap data enables outreach teams to act on strategic moments of influence, move past “checking the box” and truly deliver on their promises to members.