Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 330; no. 15; pp. 1430 - 1432
• Main Authors: Tajeu, Gabriel S, Joynt Maddox, Karen, Brewer, LaPrincess C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Medical Association 17.10.2023
• Subjects: Beneficiaries; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Coronary artery disease; Government programs; Health risks; Heart; Heart diseases; Humans; Medicare; Models, Cardiovascular; Modernization; Mortality; Patients; Quality control; Risk Factors; Risk management; Risk Reduction Behavior
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.16096
• ISSN: 0098-7484

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has implemented the Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model as a tool to drive quality improvement and reduce population-wide cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This model incentivizes healthcare organizations to assess and lower 10-year CVD risk among Medicare beneficiaries. A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of this model and found a significant reduction in incident coronary heart disease and stroke among high-risk beneficiaries. Additionally, there was a reduction in all-cause mortality and CHD-related mortality. The study also highlighted the need for greater clinician support and engagement to ensure widespread adoption of the model. Furthermore, the study emphasized the importance of addressing health equity implications and engaging diverse patient populations to combat health disparities. The Million Hearts Model presents a paradigm shift in how CVD risk reduction is measured and incentivized, focusing on mean risk reduction rather than just clinical measures. Overall, modernized payment models may be an affirmative strategy to improve CVD outcomes, but further work is needed to ensure patient-centricity, optimal deployment, and equity enhancement.