AHA Policy Statement

The healthcare system in the United States is undergoing a paradigm shift that will result in a greater focus on the early identification and management of risk factors known to be associated with a higher risk for noncommunicable diseases, in particular, cardiovascular disease (CVD). Healthcare deliv-ery must move beyond the clinical environment by partnering with employers, schools, community-based organizations, and public health agencies to reach large segments of the popula-tion and address the problems that contribute to poor health.1,2 Justification for this transformation in US healthcare delivery can be made from several perspectives, namely the renewed focus on prevention. However, one of the most compelling arguments in the current economic environment is the financial benefit of shifting the focus towards prevention. Direct medical costs associated with CVD in the United States are projected to increase from $273 billion in 2010 to $818 billion in 2030