Health Care Service Corporation works year-round to help protect members and communities against the No. 1 cause of death in the United States: heart disease.
An estimated 680,000 individuals in the U.S. die from heart disease each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recognition of American Heart Health Month, HCSC hosted special events and programming to spread awareness that complements year-round efforts to improve cardiovascular health outcomes.
For example, the company is working to improve health outcomes by closing gaps in preventive care and condition management through its Quality Innovation Institute.
The effort targets key measures of health care quality and identifies opportunities to improve member outreach, create educational programming and test and implement other interventions that bolster prevention and care outcomes.
“We want our members and communities to have readily available access to high-quality care,” says Dr. Todd Hoffman, one of the clinical leaders in the quality innovation institute. “Focusing on these measures makes an impact on people’s lives. They’re living healthier and more fulfilled lives, and that’s a big deal.”
Heart health month
Throughout American Heart Health Month in February HCSC’s Illinois health plan hosted events and programming at neighborhood center sites in Morgan Park, South Lawndale and Pullman in Chicago to help participants better understand and manage their cardiovascular health.
That included a panel discussion focused on heart health in the African American community with no-cost healthy food and blood pressure screenings, no-cost CPR certification classes, and lunch and learns in recognition of National Wear Red Day supporting women’s cardiovascular health.
Meanwhile, its New Mexico plan hosted similar programming at its neighborhood center in Albuquerque’s South Valley.
The classes complement year-round heart-forward programming at neighborhood center sites in both states, including no-cost Zumba and line dancing classes, healthy cooking classes.
“When we first opened our neighborhood center in 2019 we saw that some of our residents were experiencing challenges with heart health,” says Director of Illinois neighborhood centers Laron Taylor. “Positive change can only occur with education, and we’re working throughout the year to improve condition management for heart health and other chronic conditions.”
Working with communities
The health plans partner at the community level to ensure cardiovascular health needs are being met at the hyperlocal level.
Over the past four years, Illinois has worked with faith-based nonprofit Cultivating Health Ministries to provide diabetes, hypertension and obesity screenings to McHenry County residents.
Diabetes is a major factor in heart health as those with the condition face twice the risk of developing heart disease. Diabetes can also damage blood vessels and cause high blood pressure and heart attack.
Between 2024-2025, 67% of the 338 individuals screened for diabetes were deemed “high-risk” for developing Type 2 diabetes. Nearly half of those individuals who returned for follow-up significantly improved their glucose scores.
And among the 330 people who screened positive for severe hypertension, 60% of those who returned within a year showed improved numbers while the remaining were connected to their provider for follow-up care.
New Mexico has a longstanding partnership with the American Heart Association, including sponsoring the AHA Red Dress Collection Awards and working together to install a blood pressure monitoring station last year at the neighborhood center.
The Illinois and New Mexico plans also travel to communities statewide to promote cardiovascular health through its mobile health programs. The programs work with providers and local organizations to educate communities about heart health and other chronic conditions, provide no-cost blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings and immunizations, among other outreach efforts.
In 2025, the programs distributed more than 150 no-cost blood pressure cuffs to Illinois communities, and provided more than 1,100 blood pressure screenings, 623 glucose screenings and 526 cholesterol screenings to New Mexicans.
“Community members in rural areas have greater access issues and may not have had their blood pressure or cholesterol recently checked,” says Amy Fisher, New Mexico community relations manager. “If a screening is out of range, it can prompt them to seek follow-up care with a provider”