According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of both death and premature death in the county. On September 13, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled the Million Hearts Initiative, which has the goal of reducing cardiovascular disease. The ambitious plan is expected to have a major impact on physicians, ranging from quality bonuses to electronic health record (EHR) systems. The initiative’s goal is the prevention of 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years via clinical interventions and changes in diet, exercise, and tobacco use. The HHS notes that more than 2 million Americans suffer a stroke or heart attack each year, and almost half of them die. In addition, the medical costs and lost productivity related to cardiovascular disease total approximately $450 billion a year. According to HHS, most heart attacks and strokes can be prevented with basic, low-cost care. The initiative brings together an eclectic group of partners, including the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, the YMCA, Walgreens, the American Pharmacists Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, and numerous government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Leading the initiative is Janet Wright, MD, senior vice president for science and quality at the American College of Cardiology.
The initiative strives to improve how clinicians manage what the government calls the "ABCS"(aspirin for high-risk patients, blood pressure control, cholesterol control, and smoking cessation. The government would like to see quantifiable improvement. For example, 47% of high-risk patients take aspirin; the government would like to see that percentage rise to 65% by 2017. Similarly, it would like to blood pressure control to increase from 45% to 65%, cholesterol treatment to increase from 33% to 65%, and smoking prevalence to decrease from 19% to 17%. In addition, it would like to see a 20% reduction in sodium intake and artificial trans-fat consumption to decrease by 50%. These goals will factor into Medicare and Medicaid programs that give physicians bonuses for reporting on quality-of-care measures. In addition, the initiative’s goals will include revisions to meaningful-use criteria for EHR bonuses awarded by CMS and the criteria for qualifying EHR software. The goals will also be linked to the star ratings for the Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.
See Also:
Smoking on the decline in the U.S., CDC reports (Part 1)
Smoking on the decline in the U.S., CDC reports (Part 2)
UCLA receives top heart attack treatment award
New UCLA heart transplant program now operational
Alarming new report: Pregnancy-related strokes on the increase
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