“Turn the Beat Around” program combats cardiovascular disease African Americans in Alabama
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent this bulletin at 01/31/2013 11:53 AM EST
CMS NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: CMS Media Relations January 31, 2013 (202) 690-6145 or
HHS Office of Minority Health Division of Information & Education (240) 453-8833
African Americans in Alabama get help to fight cardiovascular disease and stroke
African Americans living in parts of Alabama will get improved access to community-based health services to prevent heart attacks and strokes through a new public, private partnership led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Million Hearts Stroke Belt Project is being funded jointly through the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS/OMH).
“The Affordable Care Act has made preventive services more accessible to Americans, including those at higher risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Cara V. James Ph.D., CMS/ OMH director.
African Americans are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease, according to 2009 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. African Americans living in Alabama – one of the states that comprises an area referred to as the “Stroke Belt” – lack access to health care. Fifty-four of the 67 counties in Alabama have a shortage of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers.
The Million Hearts Stroke Belt Project seeks to reverse this trend. The project supports the Million Hearts initiative, which counts on public, private partnerships to help prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. The project is a key part of the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and the National Prevention Strategy to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. ### |
|
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page. |