CMS MAHA ELEVATE Model for Lifestyle and Value-Based Approaches

Grants.gov Open Opportunities

Published March 13th, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is soliciting applications for the MAHA ELEVATE Model, a voluntary, three-year service delivery model testing whole-person functional or lifestyle medicine approaches. Up to 30 recipients will be selected to participate in two cohorts starting in 2026 and 2027.

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What changed

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), through its Innovation Center, is seeking applications for the Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle & Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (MAHA ELEVATE) Model. This is a voluntary, three-year service delivery model designed to test evidence-based, whole-person functional or lifestyle medicine approaches to care, focusing on proactive, comprehensive interventions rather than disease-specific treatment. CMS is not establishing a new industry standard or a new category of covered services for Medicare purposes with this model.

CMS will select up to 30 recipients for two cohorts beginning in 2026 and 2027, based on criteria including intervention design, cost savings, beneficiary recruitment, organizational capacity, data management, and budget. Eligible applicants include private medical practices, health systems, ACOs, academic organizations, CBOs, FQHCs, and RHCs, among others. Organizations not directly providing clinical care are encouraged to partner with care entities to meet operational requirements.

What to do next

Review the MAHA ELEVATE NOFO for detailed eligibility and application requirements.
Develop a proposal demonstrating evidence-based whole-person FLM intervention design, cost savings, beneficiary recruitment, and organizational capacity.
Form partnerships with clinical care entities if not directly providing clinical services.

Source document (simplified)

Make America Healthy Again – Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence

Agency: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Assistance Listings: 93.779 -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Research, Demonstrations and Evaluations

Last Updated: March 13, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov

Description

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), through its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI or Innovation Center), is soliciting applications for the Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle & Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (MAHA ELEVATE) Model. This voluntary, three-year service delivery model is designed to test evidence-based, whole-person functional or lifestyle medicine (“whole-person FLM”) approaches to care. Rather than treating diseases separately after they develop, MAHA ELEVATE takes a proactive, comprehensive approach that combines psychological, nutritional, and physical interventions with personalized, lifestyle-based strategies for prevention and early treatment.

Throughout this NOFO, we use the term “whole-person FLM” to represent a range of services or approaches often incorporated in lifestyle and functional medicine that are not currently covered under Medicare. It is important to clarify that CMS is not establishing a new industry standard through the use of this terminology. The term “whole-person FLM” as used in this NOFO does not represent an attempt by CMS to create, define, or establish any new industry-wide standard, practice guideline(s), or healthcare delivery model beyond the scope of this specific Innovation Center model and funding opportunity. Similarly, through this funding opportunity, CMS is not creating a new category of covered services for Medicare purposes. This term serves solely as a descriptive reference within this document to facilitate clear communication about the non-covered services being tested in this model and should not be interpreted as having any regulatory, coverage, or policy implications beyond the context of this specific Innovation Center model.

CMS will select a total of up to 30 Recipients to participate in MAHA ELEVATE. The model will be split into two cohorts, one year apart (years 2026 and 2027).

CMS will select recipients based on five key criteria:

• Whole-person FLM intervention design, including cost savings.

• Beneficiary recruitment and study design.

• Organizational and administrative capacity.

• Data management capabilities.

• Budget.

Highly competitive applicants must demonstrate several important strengths:

• Strong, evidence-based support for your proposed intervention(s) and

proof of your own successful history of implementation of the

intervention and cost savings.

• Ability to recruit large numbers of participants with a clear randomization

plan and advanced data management capabilities.

Given the model’s minimum beneficiary targets and extensive data management requirements, applicants who do not directly provide clinical care are strongly encouraged to form partnerships with care entities or organizations that deliver clinical care. This collaboration helps ensure you can meet the full operational requirements of the program.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Miscellaneous

Unrestricted

Additional information

Eligible applicants include any organization that meets the requirements outlined in this NOFO. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Examples of eligible applicants may include, but are not limited to: • Private medical practices. • Health systems and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). • Academic organizations. • Functional, lifestyle, preventive, and integrative medicine centers. • Community-based organizations (CBOs). • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). • Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). • Indian Health Service/Tribal Services/Urban Indian Programs (ITUs). • Local and state governments. Organizations spanning multiple states are eligible to apply.

Grantor contact information

Description

MAHA ELEVATE TEAM
MAHAELEVATE@cms.hhs.gov

Email

MAHAELEVATE@cms.hhs.gov

Documents

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| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cms-2w2-27-001-93-779-v4.pdf | MAHA ELEVATE Notice of Funding Opportunity | Mar 13, 2026 06:07 PM UTC |