Our Policy Positions
Each year, the ľֱ (AHA) produces scientific statements and guidelines based on expert consensus in order to promote our mission to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives. Our advocacy department works with leading experts around the world to translate these science-based documents into policy statements and policy advocacy materials that position the AHA on issues that will impact cardiovascular health and mortality, guide our advocacy work at all levels of government, allow us to support the important work of others, and inform policy makers, practitioners, health care professionals, researchers, the media and the public
To be added to the Policy Research email database and to stay up-to-date on our latest policy positions, please email [email protected].
Policy Positions
Access to Care
Principles for Health Care Reform - Executive Summary (PDF)
Balance Billing Principles (PDF)
Community Health
The Importance of Community Health Workers for CVD Prevention and Treatment (July 2018) (PDF)
Maternal Health
Resources
Fact Sheets
Cardiovascular Disease: Women's No. 1 Health Threat (PDF)
Cardiovascular Disease and Maternal Health (PDF)
Medicaid and CVD (PDF)(link opens in new window)
Ensuring Access to Quality Care Network Adequacy (PDF)(link opens in new window)
The Uninsured with CVD and Stroke (PDF)(link opens in new window)
Policy At-A-Glance
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (PDF)
Reports
Access to Care Impact Statement 2023 (PDF)
Additional Resources
ľֱ's 2020 Health Care Reform Principles (PDF)(link opens in new window)
Coalition Consensus Health Care Reform Principles (PDF)(link opens in new window)
Policy Positions
Access to Healthy Food
Food Sustainability and Farm Bill (PDF)
Expanding Access to Healthy Food for Medicaid Beneficiaries (PDF)
Farm Bill Policy and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (2017) (PDF)
Environmental Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals & the Impact on Obesity and CVD (PDF)
Nutrition
Food Package and Retail Shelf Icon System (PDF)
Sugary Beverages & Healthy Hydration
Historical Analysis: Structural Racism and Sugary Drinks (PDF)
Historical Analysis: Structural Racism and Water Access (PDF)
Increasing Access to Safe Drinking Water Across Different Settings (PDF)
Sugar-sweetened Beverage Taxation (PDF)
AHA Tiered Tax Policy in Brief (PDF)
SSB Tax Report Appendices A-C (PDF)
Tiered Sugary Drink Tax Revenue Calculations Brief (PDF)
Warning Labels on Sugary Drinks (PDF)
Sodium Reduction
Resources
Fact Sheets
Decreasing Sugary Drink Consumption (PDF)
Food Marketing and Advertising to Children (PDF)
Protecting Benefits and Improving Diet Quality in the Farm Bill (PDF)
Reducing Sodium in the U.S. Diet (PDF)
Reducing Sodium in the Diet of U.S. Children (PDF)
Policy At-A-Glance
Childhood Nutrition Reauthorization (PDF)
Food Marketing and Advertising to Children (PDF)
Healthier Food Options for Public Places (PDF)
Sugary Drink Warning Labels (PDF)
Infographics
Lowering Sodium in School Meals: INFOGRAPHIC (PDF)
Strategic Vision
Advocacy Strategic Vision for Nutrition Policy: 2023-2030 (PDF)
Reports
Policy Positions
Resources
Fact Sheets
Resources
Policy Positions
Resources
Policy Positions
Resources
Policy Positions
Resources
Policy Positions
CPR & AED Training
Basic Life Support Training for Healthcare Providers Guidance (PDF)
Naloxone in CPR/AED Training and Public Access to Defibrillation (PDF)
CPR & AED in Schools
Cardiac Emergency Response Planning for Schools (PDF)
Telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR)
Resources
Fact Sheets
Resources
Policy Positions
Forecasting
Resources
Policy Positions
Resources
Policy Positions
Nutrition in Schools
Increasing Access to Safe Drinking Water in Schools and Communities (PDF)
Food Marketing and Advertising to Children in Schools (PDF)
Physical Activity in Schools
Pre-Participation Screening of Young Competitive Athletes (PDF)
Treatment of Childhood Obesity in the Healthcare Environment (PDF)
Healthy Childhood
Paid Family and Medical Leave (PDF)
CPR and AED in Schools
Cardiac Emergency Response Planning for Schools (PDF)
Resources
Food Marketing and Advertising to Children (PDF)
Nutrition Standards and School Meals (PDF)
Reducing Sodium in the Diet of U.S. Children (PDF)
Teaching America's Kids A Healthy Lifestyle: Physical Education in Public Schools (PDF)
Policy At-A-Glance
Access to Safe Drinking Water (PDF)
Healthy Early Care and Education Environment (PDF)
Physical Education in Schools (PDF)
Infographics
Lowering Sodium in School Meal (PDF)
Sodium in School Meals: Myths and Facts (PDF)(link opens in new window)
Policy Positions
Workplace Wellness
Historical Summary of ľֱ Published Positions on Worksite Wellness/Employee Health Management (PDF)
Food and Beverage in the Workplace
Tobacco and Nicotine in the Workplace
Employer Sponsored Wellness Programs
Resources
Policy Positions
Policy Positions
Access to Medication
Statement on Drug Formularies (PDF)
Medication Adherence
Medication Adherence Executive Summary (PDF)
Resources
Resources
Fact Sheets
Policy At-A-Glance
Preventing Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in Hospitalized Patients (PDF)
Action Plans
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) National Action Plan (LINK)
Policy Positions
Physical Activity
Physical Activity Guidelines Rationale for Regular Updates (PDF)
Physical Activity for Youth
Increasing and Improving Physical Education and Physical Activity in Schools (PDF)
Obesity Prevention and Health Promotion Child Care Settings (PDF)
Active Transportation
Emerging Active Transportation Policies That Promote Equitable, Safe Mobility (PDF)
Resources
Resources
Policy Positions
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement and Population Health (PDF)
Nonprofit Advocacy
Policy Implementation
Public Health Interventions
Positioning on COVID-19 Vaccine (PDF)
State CV Health Programs: A Guide to Core Infrastructure, Activities, and Resources (PDF)
The Value of Primordial and Primary Prevention for CVD (LINK)
Resources
Fact Sheets
Cardiovascular Surveillance (PDF)
Policy At-A-Glance
Public Health Infrastructure (PDF)
Reports
Cardiovascular Disease A Costly Burden for America Projections (PDF)
Projections of Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence and Costs (PDF)
State Morbidity and Mortality Fact Sheets (LINK)
See Also: Forecasting the Future; Heart Disease and Stroke Research
Policy Positions
Addressing Structural Racism
Addressing Structural Racism Through Public Policy - Executive Summary (PDF)
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Policy Statement (PDF)
Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences and Referral Pathways (PDF)
Housing and Cardiovascular Health
Healthy Neighborhoods and Access (PDF)
Housing Access Affordability and Discrimination (PDF)
Housing and Cardiovascular Health (PDF)
Rural Health
Executive Summary: Call to Action: Rural Health (PDF)
Rural Health Policy Guidance (PDF)
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Paid Family and Medical Leave (PDF)
Resources
Addressing Structural Racism Through Public Policy Advocacy
Principles for Addressing Structural Racism Through Public Policy Advocacy (PDF)
Suggested Policy Levers to Address the Role of Structural Racism Through Public Policy (PDF)
Policy Positions
Resources
Policy Positions
Tobacco Endgame
Tobacco Surcharge: Updated Policy Statement (PDF)
Tobacco Retail Strategies Executive Summary (PDF)
Tobacco Retail Licensure Environmental Scan Analysis of 50 United States (PDF)
Eliminating the Sale of Tobacco Products in Pharmacies (PDF)
E-Cigarettes
Clean Air
Clean Indoor Air Laws and the Impact on Cardiovascular Disease (PDF)
Smoke-Free Policies in Multi-Unit Housing (PDF)
Cannabis
Resources
Higher Prices for Better Health Raising Tobacco Excise Taxes (PDF)
Structural Racism and Tobacco (PDF)
Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Programs (PDF)
Comprehensive Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Services in Public and Private Health Insurance (PDF)
Tobacco Retail Licensure (PDF)
Policy At-A-Glance
Comprehensive Tobacco Cessation Programs(PDF)
Eliminating Tobacco Flavors (PDF)
Reports
AHA's Progress Toward Achieving the Tobacco and Nicotine Endgame (PDF)