Ornish Programs Reimbursed by Medicare

Summary

After 17 years of internal and external review of the scientific literature published by Dr. Ornish and his colleagues at the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute (PMRI), Medicare began covering “Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease” as a branded program under a new benefit category, “intensive cardiac rehabilitation” (ICR). This is the first time that Medicare has covered an integrative medicine program.

Medicare coverage creates a sustainable new paradigm of medical care that is more caring and compassionate, as well as more cost effective and competent, at a time when the limitations of conventional medicine are becoming increasingly apparent. Because of this, many private insurance companies are also covering this program.

Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease is the only program scientifically proven to reverse heart disease currently offered in hospitals, clinics, and physician offices that Medicare and other private insurance companies are covering. People are empowered with a proven program that can quickly reverse their heart disease and other chronic conditions, allowing them to sustainably transform their lives for the better. Overall adherence to Dr. Ornish’s Program after one year in hospitals and clinics that have offered it has been 85‑90%.

Site Approval

There are two steps to becoming a certified provider of Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease with Medicare:

• Certification by Dr. Ornish If you are a health care professional or a site wishing to become a certified provider of Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, please submit a request, below. We will get back to you soon with details of the training and certification, including training dates for 2012.
• Enrollment with Medicare Once individuals and/or sites have been trained and are certified by Dr. Ornish, they may enroll with their local Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) as an Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) provider.

Patient Eligibility Criteria

Effective January 1, 2010, Medicare Part B will cover ICR program services for beneficiaries who have experienced one or more of the following:

Within the preceding 12 months:

• An acute myocardial infarction within the preceding 12 months;

At any time:

• A coronary artery bypass surgery;
• Current stable angina pectoris;
• Heart valve repair or replacement;
• Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting;
• A heart or heart-lung transplant; or,
• Other cardiac conditions as specified through a national coverage determination (NCD) (CR only).

Patients had better adherence and clinical outcomes than have ever been reported from a program of comprehensive lifestyle changes.

Here are the latest findings from all of the 3,780 patients who went through our program at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and West Virginia as of October 2011:

• Overall attendance after 1 year was 87.9%;
• 45.2% of these patients had heart disease– 34.0% had type 2 diabetes, and the others had only risk factors (high blood pressure, cholesterol, or weight), yet adherence was comparable in all categories of patients (85-90% after 1 year);
• The average patient lost 13.3 pounds in the first 12 weeks and 15.9 pounds after 1 year;
• Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol after 12 weeks were still significant after 1 year;
• Exercise capacity increased from 8.7 to 10.6 METS after 12 weeks (18% increase) and to 10.8 METS after one year (24% increase);
• Significant reductions in depression and hostility (the emotions most strongly linked with heart disease) after 12 weeks that were still significant after 1 year;
• Hemoglobin A1C in diabetics decreased from 7.4% at baseline to 6.5% after 12 weeks and 6.8% after one year (complications of diabetes such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations can be prevented when hemoglobin A1C is less than 7.0%);
• 96.5% of patients reported improvement in severity of angina (chest pain) after 1 year.

Ornish Certified Sites with Medicare Reimbursement

*We are just beginning to train and certify programs, so the site network will be growing significantly in the next few months.

West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc. Medical Center Drive Morgantown, WV 26506-8120 Program Director: David Harshbarger Phone: 304/598-4000 x73079 Direct: 304/293-2520 Fax: 304/293-3725 E-mail: harshbargerd@rcbhsc.wvu.edu Web: www.hsc.wvu.edu/Wellness/Dr-Dean-Ornish-Program/
Silverton Hospital WellspringHeart 1475 Mt. Hood Avenue Woodburn, OR 97071 Program Director: Stacey L. Wolf Phone 971-983-5261 Fax 971-983-5215 E-mail: swolf@silvhosp.org Web: www.wsheart.com
Stamford Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Dept. Tully Health Center 32 Strawberry Hill Court Stamford, CT 06902 Murray Low, EdD, FAACVPR, FACSM/Program Director E-mail: mlow@stamhealth.org Phone: (203) 276-2183 Web: http://www.stamfordhospitalheart.com/

Ornish Spectrum - Prevention Program

Participants learn about the clinically proven and scientifically validated, Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, through its trained and compassionate staff.

Components include:

• practicing stress management techniques to relax
• improve overall well being
• learning a moderate exercise program
• group support, to improve communication

Participants will also learn about the whole foods, low fat nutrition plan that is tailored by the program’s registered dietitician.

This plan features:

• recipes
• cooking demonstrations to enjoy
• eating out tips
• nutrition label reading

Patients had better adherence and clinical outcomes than have ever been reported from a program of comprehensive lifestyle changes.

Here are the latest findings from all of the 3,780 patients who went through our program at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and West Virginia as of October 2011:

• Overall attendance after 1 year was 87.9%;
• 45.2% of these patients had heart disease– 34.0% had type 2 diabetes, and the others had only risk factors (high blood pressure, cholesterol, or weight), yet adherence was comparable in all categories of patients (85-90% after 1 year);
• The average patient lost 13.3 pounds in the first 12 weeks and 15.9 pounds after 1 year;
• Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol after 12 weeks were still significant after 1 year;
• Exercise capacity increased from 8.7 to 10.6 METS after 12 weeks (18% increase) and to 10.8 METS after one year (24% increase);
• Significant reductions in depression and hostility (the emotions most strongly linked with heart disease) after 12 weeks that were still significant after 1 year;
• Hemoglobin A1C in diabetics decreased from 7.4% at baseline to 6.5% after 12 weeks and 6.8% after one year (complications of diabetes such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations can be prevented when hemoglobin A1C is less than 7.0%);
• 96.5% of patients reported improvement in severity of angina (chest pain) after 1 year.

Ornish Certified Sites with the Spectrum Prevention Program

*We are just beginning to train and certify programs, so the site network will be growing significantly in the next few months.

Pennsylvania Hospital Site List

West Virginia Hospital Site List

Hamot Heart Institute Sterling Square, Suite 211 3330 Peach Street Erie, PA 16508 Walter Horner Program Director E-mail: walter.horner@hamot.org Phone 814-877-5480 Inquiries 814-877-5481 Fax: 814-860-7842 Jameson Health System 1211 Wilmington Avenue Room 430 New Castle, PA 16105 Lori Brothers Program Director E-mail: lbrothers@jamesonhealth.org Phone: 724-656-4660 Fax: 724-656-4160 Jefferson Regional Medical Center PO Box 18119, 565 Coal Valley Road Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0119 Lexi Robinson Team Leader E-mail: Lexi.robinson@jeffersonregional.com Info: 888-ORNISH-4-U Fax: 412-653-1394 Monongahela Valley Hospital 1163 Country Club Road Monongahela, PA 15063 Randall Komacko Program Director E-mail: ornishstaff@monvalleyhospital.com Phone: 724-379-1960 Fax: 724-379-1961 Westmoreland Regional Hospital 532 West Pittsburgh Street Greensburg, PA 15601 Barb Liptak and Nancy Urick/ Program Directors E-mail: bliptak@westmoreland.org and nurick@westmoreland.org Phone: Barb – 724-850-3157 Nancy – 724-832-5068 Evangelical Community Hospital 7095 West Branch Highway Lewisburg, PA 17837 Megan Bollinger/Program Director E-mail: mbollinger@evanhospital.com Phone: 570-768-3205 Fax: 570-522-2095 Windber Medical Center 600 Somerset Avenue Windber, PA 15963 Amy Burke/Program Director E-mail: aburke@windbercare.org Phone: 814-467-3634 Fax: 814-467-3629 Indiana Regional Medical Center 835 Hospital Rd Indiana PA 15701 Nancy Smith- Program Director E-mail: nsmith@indianarmc.org Phone: 724-357-8088 Fax: 724-357-6958 Butler Memorial Hospital Diabetes Center 113 Woody St Butler PA 16001 Joyce Rudolph- Program Director 724-284-4374 Email: jlr.cde@butlerhealthsystem.org Butler Whole Health 2001 Ehrman Rd Cranberry Twp PA 16066 Rochelle Rashid-Nebel- Program Coordinator 724-631-0053 Email: rochelle.rashid@butlerhealthsystem.com Excela Health Hospitals Excela Health Frick 508 South Church Street Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666 Excela Health Westmoreland 532 West Pittsburgh Street Greensburg, PA 15601 Excela Health Latrobe 121 West Second Ave Latrobe, PA 15650 Excela Health Jeannette 600 Jefferson Ave Jeanette PA 15644 Contacts for all Excela Health Hospitals Barb Liptak and Nancy Urick Program DirectorsE-mail: bliptak@westmoreland.org nurick@westmoreland.org Phone: 1-877-771-1234 Fax: 724-547-1458

Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. 3200 MacCorkle Avenue, SE Charleston, WV 25304 Program Director Ed Haver Phone: 304-388-9520, direct 304-388-9411, inquiries Fax: 304-388-9422 E-mail: ed.haver@camc.org St. Mary’s Medical Center 2900 1st Avenue Huntington, WV 25702 Program Director Mona Wilson Phone: 304/526-1253 Fax: 304/526-8807 E-mail: mona.wilson@st-marys.org West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc. Medical Center Drive Morgantown, WV 26506-8120 Program Director David Harshbarger Phone: 304/598-4000 x73079, direct 304/293-2520, inquiries Fax: 304/293-3725 E-mail: harshbargerd@rcbhsc.wvu.edu Web: www.hsc.wvu.edu/wellness/ornish The Wellness Center at City Hospital 2000 Foundation Way Suite 1200 Martinsburg, WV 25401 Phone: 304/264-1000 ext. 1814 Fax: 304/264-1331 E-mail: ddjarnett@cityhospital.org

Ornish Spectrum – Reversing Heart Disease Program

Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease is an outpatient experiential program. It is a non-invasive treatment option that combines four components to slow, stop and even reverse the progression of coronary artery disease.

This treatment option combines:

• Low-fat, whole food nutrition
• Stress management
• Monitored fitness
• Group support

Clinical outcomes consistently demonstrate that the Ornish participants show improvements in:

• Blood pressure
• Weight
• BMI
• Cholesterol
• Angina
• Depression
• Hostility
• VItality

Each Ornish certified site has a dedicated team of caring professionals to provide support every step of the way:

• Physician / Medical Director
• Nurse Case Manager
• Exercise Physiologist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Registered Stress Management Instructor
• Registered Dietician

Patients had better adherence and clinical outcomes than have ever been reported from a program of comprehensive lifestyle changes.

Here are the latest findings from all of the 3,780 patients who went through our program at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and West Virginia as of October 2011:

• Overall attendance after 1 year was 87.9%;
• 45.2% of these patients had heart disease– 34.0% had type 2 diabetes, and the others had only risk factors (high blood pressure, cholesterol, or weight), yet adherence was comparable in all categories of patients (85-90% after 1 year);
• The average patient lost 13.3 pounds in the first 12 weeks and 15.9 pounds after 1 year;
• Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol after 12 weeks were still significant after 1 year;
• Exercise capacity increased from 8.7 to 10.6 METS after 12 weeks (18% increase) and to 10.8 METS after one year (24% increase);
• Significant reductions in depression and hostility (the emotions most strongly linked with heart disease) after 12 weeks that were still significant after 1 year;
• Hemoglobin A1C in diabetics decreased from 7.4% at baseline to 6.5% after 12 weeks and 6.8% after one year (complications of diabetes such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations can be prevented when hemoglobin A1C is less than 7.0%);
• 96.5% of patients reported improvement in severity of angina (chest pain) after 1 year.

Ornish Certified Sites with the Reversing Heart Disease Program

*We are just beginning to train and certify programs, so the site network will be growing significantly in the next few months.

Pennsylvania Hospital Site List

West Virginia Hospital Site List

Hamot Heart Institute Sterling Square, Suite 211 3330 Peach Street Erie, PA 16508 Walter Horner Program Director E-mail: walter.horner@hamot.org Phone 814-877-5480 Inquiries 814-877-5481 Fax: 814-860-7842 Jameson Health System 1211 Wilmington Avenue Room 430 New Castle, PA 16105 Lori Brothers Program Director E-mail: lbrothers@jamesonhealth.org Phone: 724-656-4660 Fax: 724-656-4160 Jefferson Regional Medical Center PO Box 18119, 565 Coal Valley Road Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0119 Lexi Robinson Team Leader E-mail: Lexi.robinson@jeffersonregional.com Info: 888-ORNISH-4-U Fax: 412-653-1394 Monongahela Valley Hospital 1163 Country Club Road Monongahela, PA 15063 Randall Komacko Program Director E-mail: ornishstaff@monvalleyhospital.com Phone: 724-379-1960 Fax: 724-379-1961

Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. 3200 MacCorkle Avenue, SE Charleston, WV 25304 Program Director Ed Haver Phone: 304-388-9520, direct 304-388-9411, inquiries Fax: 304-388-9422 E-mail: ed.haver@camc.org West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc. Medical Center Drive Morgantown, WV 26506-8120 Program Director David Harshbarger Phone: 304/598-4000 x73079, direct 304/293-2520, inquiries Fax: 304/293-3725 E-mail: harshbargerd@rcbhsc.wvu.edu Web: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/Wellness/Dr-Dean-Ornish-Program/

Connecticut Hospital Site List	Oregon Hospital Site List
Stamford Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Dept. Tully Health Center 32 Strawberry Hill Court Stamford, CT 06902 Murray Low, EdD, FAACVPR, FACSM/Program Director E-mail: mlow@stamhealth.org Phone: (203) 276-2183 Web: http://www.stamfordhospitalheart.com/	Silverton Hospital WellspringHeart 1475 Mt. Hood Avenue Woodburn, OR 97071 Sarah Fronza/Program Director E-mail: sfronza@silvhosp.org Phone 971-983-5307(direct) Inquiries 971-983-5212 Fax 971-983-5215 Web http://www.wsheart.com