Decreasing Cardiology Costs through Preventative Care

With cardiovascular disease (CVD) continuing to cause more deaths and more financial strain than any other condition, it’s time for healthcare to place significant focus and attention on preventing this disease before it starts. 

In this article, we’ll explore how cardiologists can adopt a more preventative, proactive approach to patient care and examine the impact this shift could have on costs and patient outcomes. 

What Causes Cardiovascular Disease?

While it’s true that genetics and family history often play a role in the risk of developing CVD, 80% of CVD cases are considered preventable. To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cardiologists should help patients identify the lifestyle changes that are within their control. 

‍Key modifiable risk factors for CVD include:

• Poor Diet: A diet high in saturated fats, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium can lead to elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, significantly increasing the patient's risk for heart disease. 
• Physical Inactivity: A lack of regular physical activity can contribute to conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes, all of which increase the likelihood of developing CVD. Regular physical exercise, even moderate activities, can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. 
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption: An overconsumption of alcohol can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease. It also elevates triglyceride levels, a fatty substance in the blood, which is a contributing risk factor. 
• Tobacco Use: Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels, leading to heart conditions such as atherosclerosis and heart attack. Nicotine elevates blood pressure, while carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke reduces oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.

Preventative Care for Cardiovascular Disease

Our current healthcare system, particularly the fee-for-service model, fails to incentivize cardiologists to deliver individualized, preventative care. But if we want to see rates of CVD decrease, we need to prioritize early intervention. 

The most effective prevention efforts identify and target high-risk individuals before they develop a condition. So, what does a preventative care approach include? 

Primary Prevention focuses on individuals who are at high risk for developing CVD but have yet to develop a cardiovascular condition. Primary prevention helps prevent heart problems before they can cause a major event such as a heart attack or stroke. This type of prevention is mainly achieved through healthy lifestyle choices such as regular physical activity and a balanced diet. 

Secondary Prevention targets individuals with established heart disease. This approach focuses on reducing the likelihood of recurrent cardiovascular events through interventions like medication management and counseling. 

Tertiary Prevention is geared toward individuals already experiencing cardiovascular disease and enduring its long-term effects. This approach is designed to improve quality of life and life expectancy through medical therapy as well as invasive procedures.

A Coordinated Care Approach 

For patients with CVD, a collaborative care approach is vital to managing and preventing heart disease risks. 

Too often, cardiologists are working in isolation, without the technology or communication tools needed to coordinate with primary care providers or even the ability to see up-to-date information about patient hospital admissions. 

And since CVD often is associated with other chronic conditions, healthcare providers must work as a team to effectively treat and prevent this disease.

How Preventative Care Decreases Costs

The CDC reports that chronic diseases are leading drivers of healthcare costs in the United States, and we know that preventing a chronic condition is much more cost-effective than providing lifelong treatment for a patient.

By focusing on and investing in preventative measures, we can substantially reduce the financial strain being placed on individuals as well as providers, while also improving patient outcomes and saving lives.  

Incentivizing CVD Prevention with a Value-Based Care Model

Adoption of the value-based care (VBC) model in cardiology will be an important step toward incentivizing preventative care for at-risk patients. This model prioritizes care quality over the number of services rendered, and allows providers to get reimbursed for activities that improve patient outcomes. 

However, to successfully operate under VBC, providers will require partnerships and tools around risk assessment, administrative support, and care coordination across specialties. At Chamber, we’re committed to offering the resources and expertise necessary to make this transition, ensuring that providers are compensated for the exceptional care they deliver. 

Ready to make the switch to preventative, value-based care? Book a call with Chamber to find out how we can help you get started.

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