On September 13th the Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of a new campaign to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years. In regard to tobacco cessation, their goal is to see four million fewer Americans smoking by 2017.
The campaign, being led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will achieve this goal by partnering with public and private organizations, providers, and individuals at all levels to promote what they refer to as the ABCS of health care: Asprin for high risk patients, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation.On the national level, partner organizations hope to influence legislation in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as it goes into effect over the next several years. Among other things they will be advocating for full integration of tobacco cessation efforts into EHR’s and monetary incentives from Medicare for thorough and accurate reporting. They will also be working to draft language for legislation which will require insurance companies to provide full coverage for a wide range of evidence based clinical prevention services including tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy and counseling as part of their “essential health benefit package” .In the coming years hundreds of millions of dollars will be apportioned by the government agencies involved and private partners for environmental and policy changes to achieve these goals (stay tuned for more information about this money in the near future!). But the campaign is also asking that individuals and small healthcare providers do their part to implement ABCS into their daily lives and practices as soon as possible.The North Country Tobacco Cessation Center will do its part to inform you of developments regarding tobacco cessation and the Million Hearts Campaign. But, we encourage you to learn about other aspects of this campaign and to get involved at www.millionhearts.hhs.gov . Sign on and take the pledge to do your part to reduce tobacco use and prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017! Encourage your patients to sign on and take the pledge as well!!Below is a list of national Agencies and organizations which have already partnered with the Million Hearts Campaign, check in at www.millionhearts.hhs.gov to see what these organizations are doing and are asking their members to do to support the Million Hearts Campaign:
| PUBLIC SECTORUS department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Administration on Aging (AoA) Agency for Health Quality Research (AHRQ) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Indian Health Service (IHS) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) National Prevention Strategy National Quality Strategy Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | PRIVATE SECTOR American College of Cardiology (ACC) American Heart Association (AHA) America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) American Medical Association (AMA) American Nurses Association (ANA) American Pharmacists Association (APhA) The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) Kaiser Permanente The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and The Alliance for Patient Medication Safety (APMS) The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) The National Community Pharmacists Assocation (NCPA) United Health Care Walgreens YMCA of America
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