CMS Launches MAHA ELEVATE Model to Fund Lifestyle Medicine in Medicare

CMS is set to launch the Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (MAHA ELEVATE) Model in September 2026, an initiative aiming to transform chronic disease management within Original Medicare. This model will allocate approximately $100 million via cooperative agreements over three years to fund up to 30 proposals that integrate evidence-based, whole-person care approaches, including lifestyle and functional medicine interventions not currently covered by Original Medicare. These approaches aim to complement conventional medical care by focusing on prevention and health promotion through nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and other holistic strategies. The backdrop for MAHA ELEVATE underscores the high burden of chronic conditions in the Medicare population, with nearly half of beneficiaries managing four or more chronic illnesses, accounting for about 90% of Medicare spending. CMS designed this model to address underlying lifestyle factors contributing to chronic diseases and encourage sustained healthy behaviors outside clinical settings, anticipating long-term improvements in health outcomes and cost reduction. Selected proposals must demonstrate documented efficacy and safety of lifestyle interventions supported by scientific evidence and peer-reviewed research. Applicants with experience in delivering these treatments and robust data collection capabilities will be favored, reflecting CMS's emphasis on rigorous evaluation. Three awards are reserved specifically for programs targeting dementia-related interventions. The funding supports services not covered under Original Medicare but can be used for administration, data collection, and reporting related to these care models. Notably, participation in MAHA ELEVATE will not alter current Medicare benefits or coverage for beneficiaries, preserving patient access to existing providers and protections. Strict safeguards for patient safety and privacy are embedded in the program requirements, with CMS monitoring compliance to ensure interventions adhere to high-quality standards. HIPAA privacy and security measures apply to all beneficiary data handled under this model. This initiative represents CMS’s first Innovation Center project focusing specifically on whole-person, lifestyle-based interventions within Original Medicare, potentially setting a precedent for future value-based care models aimed at the prevention and holistic management of chronic diseases.