Providers to participate in Medicare payment model to reduce heart, stroke risk

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has selected 516 organizations, including hospitals, to participate in the Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model beginning in September. The randomized controlled trial will test whether paying practices to identify and manage cardiovascular risks for Medicare patients reduces heart attacks, strokes and Medicare costs. Participants will use an American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association calculator to measure cardiovascular risk for eligible patients and work with them to identify the best approach to reduce their risk. Half of the participants in the five-year model will serve as a control group. For more information, visit innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Million-Hearts-CVDRRM.