This initiative was co-led by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) working alongside other parts of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For the official homepage of the Million Hearts™ initiative, visit millionhearts.hhs.gov.
Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Million Hearts™ brought together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.
Background
Heart attack and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 1 of every 3 deaths in the country. Million Hearts™ was a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. The impact is expected to be even greater over time.
Initiative Details
Million Hearts™ aimed to prevent heart attack and stroke by:
- Improving access to effective care.
- Improving the quality of care for the ABCS: Aspirin for those at risk for heart attack and stroke; Blood pressure control; Cholesterol management; and Smoking cessation.
- Focusing clinical attention on the prevention of heart attack and stroke.
- Activating the public to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle.
- Improving the prescription and adherence to appropriate medications for the ABCS.
The Million Hearts™ initiative focused, coordinated, and enhanced cardiovascular disease prevention activities across the public and private sectors and scaled-up proven clinical and community strategies to prevent heart attack and stroke across the nation.
Million Hearts™ brought together existing efforts and new programs to improve health across communities and help Americans live longer, healthier, more productive lives. Organizations working together on this initiative included those within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services were the co-leaders of Million Hearts™ within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working alongside other federal agencies including the Administration on Community Living, National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Food and Drug Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Office of the National Coordinator, and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
Additional Information