By Candace DeMatteis, Policy Director, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease is proud to join the Modern Medicaid Alliance’s partner organizations to recognize the value of Medicaid for Americans with heart disease and other chronic conditions. During American Heart Month, it’s important to recognize that Medicaid is a lifeline for dealing with heart disease, which enables early detection and receiving the necessary treatment to control or fight it.
More than half of adult Medicaid beneficiaries have a history of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, nearly 75% of beneficiaries with heart disease also live with at least one other chronic condition. For example, people with type 2 diabetes have more than two times the risk of developing heart disease.
The Medicaid program is making a significant difference to help people with heart disease. Medicaid beneficiaries are more likely to have regular sources of care and are twice as likely to take their medication as directed, compared to the uninsured. This makes it critical to continue to fight heart disease through education and advocacy.
Hundreds of organizations are working to build awareness surrounding American Heart Month, including many MMA members:
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners is participating in Million Hearts® 2022, a national initiative that aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by the year 2022.
- Black Women’s Health Imperative published a helpful guide on how to find out if you have a history of heart disease in your family, which includes an infographic to help start conversations about family history of heart health.
- Men’s Health Network, alongside other organizations, participated in a Twitter chat discussing the 5 essential numbers to heart health.
- AHIP used this month to share innovative case studies from health plans that work to promote heart health, which include Health Net’s telephonic tobacco cessation program and Geisinger Health Plan’s remote patient monitoring to reduce readmissions.
More than 85 million Americans live with some form of heart disease or stroke, which is forecasted to cost more than $818 billion by 2030. Fortunately, the modern Medicaid program including managed care plans provide coverage to better manage heart disease and its cost.