Evaluation of the Million Hearts® Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model

The Million Hearts® Model has improved cardiovascular preventive care as evidenced by increasing rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and the use of statins and antihypertensive medications. These improvements occurred not just for high-risk beneficiaries (for whom the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS] made separate CVD risk reduction payments), but also among the much larger high-and medium-risk group. This suggests the model's targeted incentives may have affected care for a broad population. However, over almost 3 years, the model has not yet reduced the rate of first-time heart attack or stroke, or Medicare spending.