Partnership Reaches 500 Signatories Urging CMS to Adopt New Cardiovascular Health Measures
Over 500 patients, clinicians, and advocates have signed a petition calling on federal regulators to better measure and manage high cholesterol.
Washington D.C. – More than 500 individuals from nearly all U.S. states have signed a petition urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to adopt quality measures that track the measurement and treatment of patients' LDL cholesterol towards a goal. The effort is spearheaded by the Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health (PACH).
The petition is part of the "Measure What Matters" campaign, aiming to update current quality metrics. PACH, in collaboration with the Family Heart Foundation, has rallied policymakers, advocates, and clinicians to call on CMS and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to implement new, clinically aligned quality measure recommendations.
Ryan Gough, Executive Director of PACH, highlighted that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and high LDL cholesterol is a significant, modifiable risk factor. He stated that surpassing 500 signatures signals to CMS that "you can't manage what you don't measure." The current measure relies solely on statin prescription, assuming cholesterol is controlled.
Adopting updated measures would incentivize LDL cholesterol screening and goal-directed treatment, which Gough believes will save lives, improve outcomes, and reduce costs. This aligns with updated ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guideline recommendations advocating for specific, risk-based LDL-C goals and universal Lp(a) screening at least once in a lifetime. Hilly Paige, Chief Innovation Officer at the Family Heart Foundation, emphasized the importance of adopting these measures. PACH submitted its formal letter to the CMS Administrator on September 15.