Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced new grant opportunities through a new program, Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (MAHA ELEVATE). MAHA ELEVATE is part of the Administration’s plan to reform America’s health systems to address the chronic disease epidemic.
The model will provide approximately $100 million to fund 3-year cooperative agreements for up to 30 proposals that promote health and prevention for Original Medicare beneficiaries. The proposals will utilize evidence-based, whole-person care approaches — including functional or lifestyle medicine interventions — currently not covered by Original Medicare. These approaches are intended to support, not replace, the medical care received by people with Medicare. MAHA ELEVATE will also gather and evaluate new data on cost and quality to inform future interventions promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and ultimately reduce spending in Original Medicare. The first cohort of this voluntary model will launch October 2026, and initial letters of intent are due no later than April 10.
Senior living operators are uniquely positioned to demonstrate the value they already provide through wellness supports to individuals already residing on their campuses. If you plan to apply for MAHA ELEVATE, please let our team know by emailing swallace@leadingageohio.org.