CMS launches ELEVATE Model: A new opportunity for OT practitioners to lead in lifestyle medicine

Updated 3/24/2026

ELEVATE Model Notice of Funding Opportunity Now Available

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the ELEVATE Model Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), providing important new details for organizations interested in participating in this innovative model.

The NOFO is now available on Grants.gov: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/361494.

Eligible applicants are strongly encouraged to review the NOFO carefully to understand program requirements, eligibility criteria, and expectations for participation in the ELEVATE Model. Timely submission of the Letter of Intent is required to advance to the application phase. Letters of intent are due April 10, 2026, with the full application due May 15, 2026.

To receive updates from CMS on this opportunity, subscribe to the ELEVATE listserve. AOTA will also continue to share updates and resources to support occupational therapy practitioners and organizations interested in engaging with this CMS model opportunity. To learn more about the ELEVATE opportunity and OT's role in lifestyle medicine, read below.

12/18/2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced a transformative initiative to complement traditional medical care and address the growing epidemic of chronic disease among Medicare beneficiaries. The ELEVATE model (Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence) will invest approximately $100 million over three years to fund up to 30 cooperative agreements. These agreements will support proposals that advance health and prevention through evidence-based, whole-person care approaches, including functional and lifestyle medicine interventions not currently covered by Medicare.

This innovative model focuses on treating the whole person rather than isolated conditions. ELEVATE seeks to build a robust evidence base of cost and quality outcomes for lifestyle medicine strategies. These strategies combine behavioral, nutritional, and physical interventions with self-care techniques to promote overall wellness and prevent disease. Core areas of emphasis include healthy eating, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of harmful substances, and fostering social connections.

Role of OT in lifestyle medicine

Occupational therapy (OT) is uniquely positioned to help individuals adopt sustainable health behaviors that fit into their daily lives. ELEVATE emphasizes interventions that empower people to build healthy routines, a core principle of OT practice. The model aligns with approaches championed by programs like Lifestyle Redesign®, which uses occupation-based strategies to manage chronic conditions and improve quality of life.

OT practitioners can leverage their expertise in habit formation, environmental modification, and self-management to address lifestyle factors such as:

• Nutrition and meal planning for individuals with diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
• Physical activity integration for those with arthritis or obesity, using graded exercise and activity pacing
• Sleep hygiene and stress management for patients with anxiety, depression, or chronic pain
• Energy conservation and fatigue management for individuals with COPD or heart failure
• Social engagement strategies for those at risk of isolation, including persons with dementia

ELEVATE offers an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate the value of occupational therapy in promoting lifestyle changes that prevent or slow the progression of chronic disease.

Eligible applicants include: private practices, health systems, academic organizations, community-based groups, senior living communities, or state and local governments. Applicants must demonstrate that they or their partners are experienced in delivering proposed interventions and that the interventions are supported in peer-reviewed literature as safe and effective for the target population. Proposals should include:

• Planned functional or lifestyle services not already covered by Original Medicare. All proposals must include nutrition or physical activity as part of the design.
• Documented scientific evidence of the intervention’s safety, efficacy, and cost impact for the target population, including data showing outcomes from the program’s implementation.
• Applicant’s experience with data collection, including integrating and measuring the impact of similar approaches to health and wellness.

If selected, awardees will work with CMS to develop a plan for data collection, cost-containment measures, and reporting. Cooperative agreements will be awarded for two start dates—one on September 1, 2026, and the other in 2027.

Access the ELEVATE Model website for more details.

The ELEVATE team can also be contacted directly for specific questions at: mahaelevate@cms.hhs.gov.