Simplified SNP MOC Provider Training with Atlas Systems

If you’re a primary care provider who just joined a Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) network, you might receive an email within days reminding you to complete your SNP Model of Care (MOC) training. Why all the urgency? 

SNPs support some of Medicare’s most vulnerable members, such as people with serious chronic conditions or those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. MOC is the plan that makes sure these members get coordinated, high-quality care. 

To support this, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires providers to complete MOC training when they start and every year after. This training is a key part of SNP compliance and improving care quality every year, making it a cornerstone of SNP compliance and quality improvement.

In this blog, we’ll break down what the SNP Model of Care is, who needs this training, what topics it covers, how to attest and submit documentation, and many more such details. We’ll also see how solid compliance practices (and even smart tools) can turn a yearly training requirement into better patient outcomes and smoother audits.

What is the SNP Model of Care (MOC)?

The SNP MOC is the blueprint for how each plan supports members with complex needs. Approved by NCQA on behalf of CMS, the MOC goes much beyond a compliance requirement. It’s a roadmap for delivering coordinated, high-quality care. It defines who the plan serves, how care is coordinated through risk assessments and care teams, the provider network that supports members, and the quality measures used to track progress. In short, the MOC is the playbook for improving outcomes in high-risk populations.

A typical MOC includes:

• A description of the target population, such as members with chronic conditions or those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
• Processes for care coordination, including health risk assessments, individualized care plans, and interdisciplinary care teams
• A specialized provider network designed for the SNP population
• A quality management program to measure and improve effectiveness

To keep everyone aligned, CMS requires all SNP providers to complete MOC training when they join a network and every year thereafter.

Who must complete SNP MOC provider training?

If you care for patients enrolled in an SNP, you are required to complete MOC provider training. CMS requires all SNPs to provide initial and annual training to ensure providers and staff understand the model of care, patient needs, and plan benefits.

Who is required to complete training

• In-network providers
  Physicians, nurses, specialists, behavioral health professionals, and others contracted with the SNP.
• Certain out-of-network providers
  Specialists or practices that frequently treat SNP members, even without direct contracts.
• New providers
  Must complete training within 60–90 days of joining a SNP network.
• Care management teams and staff
  Coordinators and administrative staff supporting SNP patients.

Required MOC training topics for SNP providers

MOC provider training gives clinicians a clear and practical overview of how an SNP works and what is expected from providers. While the exact details vary by plan to plan, the core training topics are consistent.

SNP population and benefits introduce providers to the members served, such as those with chronic conditions or dual eligibility, along with the added benefits and care coordination services available. This helps providers better understand the health risks and needs of SNP members so care can be tailored appropriately.

Care coordination covers the process of completing Health Risk Assessments (HRAs), developing Individualized Care Plans (ICPs), and ensuring plans are kept up to date. Providers are expected to review care plans, make updates when needed, and work with care managers on member goals.

Interdisciplinary care team (ICT) training explains how providers collaborate with physicians, specialists, pharmacists, social workers, and care managers. Providers may be asked to participate in ICT meetings and share updates that shape care planning.

Transitions of care highlight best practices when members are admitted or discharged from a facility. Timely communication, discharge summaries, medication reconciliation, and post-discharge follow-up are emphasized to prevent gaps in care.

Additional sections outline provider roles and responsibilities, explain how performance is measured through quality improvement metrics like HEDIS® and CAHPS®, and reinforce compliance requirements such as FWA prevention, HIPAA, and accurate documentation.

Most plans make this training quick and convenient through short online modules or self-study packets, giving providers the guidance they need to deliver care aligned with CMS standards.

Attestation, documentation, and submission process

Completing the SNP MOC training is only step one. Documenting that you completed it is equally important, since both CMS and health plans must have proof that every provider has met the requirement.

At the end of a training, providers are usually asked to submit an attestation confirming they have finished the course and understand the MOC. For online modules, this may be as simple as checking a box or adding an electronic signature after a quiz.

For self-study packets, it might mean signing an attestation form or letter and returning it via email, fax, or portal upload. Many plans allow a practice lead or office manager to attest on behalf of a group of providers, which can save time when multiple clinicians complete the training together. Regardless of the method, an attestation must be on file for each provider every year.

Health plans maintain these attestations and often track compliance on a monthly or quarterly basis. CMS can request proof at any time, so providers are encouraged to keep their own records as well, such as a certificate of completion or email confirmation.

Here’s a simple compliance checklist to stay on track:

• Complete the training by the plan’s deadline (often December 31 each year).
• Submit attestation promptly, following the plan’s instructions.
• Retain proof of completion for your own records.
• Follow plan-specific steps since each insurer may have a slightly different process.
• Meet annual deadlines and complete training early to stay ahead of audits.

When to submit or revise an MOC

From the health plan’s perspective, the MOC is not a “set it and forget it” document. It must be kept up to date and resubmitted for approval at specific intervals. While providers don’t handle submissions directly, it’s helpful to understand the timing since training materials are updated whenever the MOC changes.

According to CMS, a Medicare Advantage organization must submit a new MOC for NCQA approval in the following situations:

• Launching a new SNP – When a plan introduces a Special Needs Plan for a new population or region, it must create and submit an MOC as part of the SNP application. Without an approved MOC, the SNP cannot enroll members.
• Approval period ends – NCQA grants MOC approvals for up to three years (sometimes less, depending on the score). When the approval expires, the plan must submit an updated MOC for renewal.
• CMS requests resubmission – CMS may require a plan to revise and resubmit mid-cycle, often due to audit findings, regulatory changes, or performance gaps showing the model is not being effectively implemented.

Outside of these scenarios, health plans typically review and update their MOCs internally each year to refine care processes.

What this means for providers

Training is refreshed annually to align with the current MOC. Even if you’ve completed the course before, new initiatives, quality metrics, or population health programs may be added each year. Staying current ensures your care practices are aligned with the plan’s expectations and resources for SNP patients.

MOC approval, NCQA scoring, and the cure process

When a health plan submits its MOC to CMS, the NCQA evaluates it against a defined set of elements and standards. The review isn’t just pass or fail; NCQA assigns a score that determines how long the approval lasts.

NCQA scoring thresholds

The cure process

If a plan’s initial MOC scores below 70%, CMS allows one opportunity to “cure” deficiencies. The plan can be revised and resubmitted.

• If the resubmission scores ≥70%, then the plan earns a 1-year approval.
• If it still scores below 70%, then the SNP cannot operate.

This policy rewards strong, well-designed MOCs with longer approvals and penalizes weaker ones by requiring faster re-evaluation or, in the worst case, halting the plan altogether.

Why it matters to providers

While NCQA scoring is handled at the plan level, the effects often filter down. A plan with only a 1-year approval may push for more frequent updates, stricter compliance requirements, and closer oversight of provider training. In extreme cases where approval isn’t renewed, members could be transitioned to other plans.

For providers, following the MOC, completing training, and engaging in care coordination directly strengthen the plan’s overall score and its ability to keep serving SNP members.

Streamlining MOC training and compliance through PRIME®

The annual SNP MOC provider training is more than just another compliance requirement; it is the foundation of coordinated, high-quality care for patients with the greatest needs. By staying current with the MOC, providers strengthen their ability to work across interdisciplinary teams, ensure smoother care transitions, and deliver measurable improvements in outcomes such as hospital readmissions, medication adherence, and patient satisfaction.

For health plans, the real challenge lies in ensuring that every provider completes training, submits attestations, and stays audit-ready year after year. That’s where PRIME® transforms the process. PRIME® delivers a fully customizable online training experience that not only covers CMS-required competencies, including SNP MOC, confidentiality, and cultural competency, but also builds measurable provider competencies tied directly to day-to-day care delivery.

At PRIME, we believe that quality care starts with well-trained providers. That’s why we’ve designed a comprehensive training framework that combines technology, structured programs, and personal outreach, ensuring providers are always equipped to deliver their best.

Our state-of-the-art, fully customizable training platform makes it easy for providers to learn in a positive and structured environment. Whether onboarding new staff or refreshing essential knowledge, PRIME ensures that every provider in your network is confident and compliant.

We go beyond generic training. Attendance is logged, and modules are tailored to specific job functions. Providers can strengthen core competencies across critical areas, including:

• Integrity and Compliance
• Fraud and Abuse Prevention
• Cultural Competency
• HIPAA and Confidentiality
• CMS Special Needs Plan Model of Care (SNP MOC)

Training doesn’t end with a completed module. Our direct outreach team follows up personally with providers to ensure requirements are met. We track progress in real time and issue certificates upon completion, keeping your network ready, compliant, and recognized.

In short, MOC training is mission-critical. PRIME® makes it simple, structured, and scalable.

Ready to streamline your provider training and compliance process?

Learn how PRIME® can help your organization stay ahead while improving care for every SNP member. Get a demo today.

FAQs

1. Is SNP MOC training mandatory every year?

Yes. CMS requires all SNP providers to complete MOC training when they join a plan and once every year thereafter.

2. Who needs to complete SNP MOC training?

Any provider or staff involved in SNP patient care: PCPs, specialists, NPs, out-of-network providers who see SNP members, and care management staff.

3. What is included in the SNP MOC quality management program?

Plans track metrics like HEDIS®, CAHPS®, Health Outcomes Survey (HOS), hospital readmission rates, and CMS Part C & D reporting. Focus is on patient outcomes, not vendor satisfaction.

4. How long does SNP MOC training take?

Most training sessions are short, about 10–20 minutes online. Some include a quick quiz or extra compliance modules.

5. What happens if providers don’t complete SNP MOC training?

Non-compliance can lead to corrective action, suspension, or termination from the SNP network. CMS audits plans on this, so both providers and plans are at risk if training isn’t completed.