CMS is rebranding its Health Equity Index reward program to the Excellent Health Outcomes for All (EHO4all) reward, which is set to take effect for 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings.
The new name “better captures the goal of ensuring exceptional care for all enrollees,” the agency wrote April 7 in its 2026 final rate notice.
The EHO4all reward will specifically target enrollees who are at higher risk for poor health outcomes, including those who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, low-income subsidy recipients, and disabled beneficiaries.
“While the EHO4all reward incentivizes improved performance among specified groups of enrollees at risk for poor health outcomes, CMS is also incentivizing improved performance across all enrollees by removing the current reward factor when the EHO4all reward is implemented beginning with the 2027 Star Ratings,” the agency wrote.
CMS has also proposed the possibility of adding geographic factors, such as whether beneficiaries reside in rural or urban areas, to the EHO4all reward.
CMS originally introduced the health equity index in its 2024 final rule to incentivize MA and Part D plans to improve care for members with social risk factors. The index combines several star ratings measures into one overall score. The final score is calculated by adding up weighted scores from all the measures and averaging them. Plans that perform well will then earn a reward.
