More than 68 million Americans are living with high blood pressure, and many of them don't know it. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, leading causes of death in the U.S. The good news is that you can help fight against cardiovascular disease and the "silent killer, high blood pressure.
On September 13, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services, with several key partners, launched the Million Hearts<http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/09/20110913a.html>(tm) initiative. The goal of this campaign is to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years. Million Hearts(tm) focuses on empowering Americans to make healthy choices and on improving care by addressing the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. As a health care professional, you can help save thousands of lives over the next 5 years by participating in this critical campaign. Medicare provides coverage for a variety of preventive services that can help your Medicare patients prevent and detect certain health conditions that can contribute to cardiovascular disease. These include, but are not limited to: * Cardiovascular Disease Screening (total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides tests) * Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease * Tobacco-use cessation counseling services * Initial Preventive Physical Exam (also commonly referred to as the "Welcome to Medicare" Preventive Visit ) * Annual Wellness Visit, providing a Personalized Prevention Plan Service * Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Obesity * Diabetes Screening As you talk with your Medicare patients about their risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and the steps they can take to help lower and control their blood pressure and cholesterol, please discuss these important services with them and encourage utilization as appropriate. Many people's lives are endangered by heart disease-utilization of these Medicare covered services can help save those lives. Resources from the Medicare Learning Network® (MLN): * Expanded Benefits brochure<https://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Expanded_Benefits.pdf> * Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling Services brochure<http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/smoking.pdf> * The ABCs of Providing the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE), or "Welcome to Medicare Preventive Visit" quick reference chart<https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QRI_IPPE001a.pdf> * The ABCs of Providing the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) quick reference chart<https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/downloads/AWV_Chart_ICN905706.pdf> More Information for Healthcare Professionals: * National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease<http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/ncd-details.aspx?NCDId=348&ncdver=1&NCAId=248&ver=2&NcaName=Intensive+Behavioral+Therapy+for+Cardiovascular+Disease&bc=BEAAAAAAABAA&;> § Million Hearts(tm) Initiative website<http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/> ________________________________ If you know someone who would like to subscribe to a Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) provider listserv, go to http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/downloads//MailingLists_FactSheet.pdf<http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/downloads/MailingLists_FactSheet.pdf> and select the appropriate listserv to subscribe. If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?INDEX) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/ContactCMS/index.html). Thank you.
