Control High Blood Pressure

The Issue

Each year in the United States, heart disease, stroke, and other vascular diseases contribute to 800,000 deaths. About 70 million American adults have high blood pressure and high cholesterol — the main causes of heart disease and stroke — yet only about half of adults with high blood pressure and one in three of those with high cholesterol have their condition under control.

High blood pressure costs the nation $46 billion each year — including the cost of health care services, medications to treat high blood pressure, and missed days of work.

CDC’s 6|18 Initiative Success Story

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Controlling High Blood Pressure
Read more » | Other successes »

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Plan an Evidence-Based Intervention

Following are hypertension prevention interventions for payers identified by the CDC as having a proven evidence base for improving health outcomes and controlling health care costs:

Implement strategies that improve adherence to anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering prescription medications via expanded access to: (1) low cost medication copayments, fixed dose medication combinations, extended medication fills; (2) innovative pharmacy packaging; and (3) improved care coordination using standardized protocols, primary care team, medication therapy management programs and self-monitoring of blood pressure with clinical support.
Provide home blood pressure monitors to patients with high blood pressure and reimburse for the clinical support services required for self-measured blood pressure monitoring.

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Evidence Summary: Control High Blood Pressure

Download the CDC’s evidence summary that outlines key cost and health information for payers and providers, as well as demonstrated outcomes for each of the above interventions.

Get Started with CDC’s 6|18 Initiative

View Getting Started: CDC’s 6|18 Initiative guide »

Complete control high blood pressure planning tool »

Create control high blood pressure action plan »

Explore implementation resources »

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Explore Implementation Resources

The following resources can help payers, state officials, and providers to implement high-opportunity interventions aimed at controlling high blood pressure. Does your state/program have resources to share? Send an email to 618@chcs.org.

See also CDC’s high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke program web pages.

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Type

Audience

State

Guide/Toolkit | March 2020

Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual

Provides information about the Texas Medicaid benefits, policies, and procedures that are applicable to durable medical equipment suppliers and providers.

Brief/Report | February 2020

A National Analysis of Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring Coverage and Reimbursement

Contains a national analysis of self-measured blood pressure monitoring coverage and reimbursement policies by selected public and private payers/insurers across the United States.

Guide/Toolkit | January 2020

New CPT Codes to Cover Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP)

Provides an overview of new CPT codes for providers that offer SMBP related clinical services.

Case Study/Profile | January 2020

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Controlling High Blood Pressure

Showcases CNMI's efforts in reducing high blood pressure through patient adherence to anti-hypertensive medication and improving access to self-monitoring blood pressure devices.

Website/Resource Center

Taking Control of My Blood Pressure: Patient Stories

Provides videos of patients speaking about their stories taking control of their blood pressure.

Guide/Toolkit | October 2019

Connecticut Department of Social Services’ Provider Bulletin

Provides information on how people can obtain coverage for self-measured blood pressure monitoring devices, as well as resources available in Connecticut.

Fact Sheet | October 2019

California’s Durable Medical Equipment Medicaid Policy

Contains information about California's durable medical equipment items not included in the following DME groups: infusion equipment, oxygen and respiratory equipment, speech generating devices, therapeutic anti-decubitus mattresses and bed products and wheelchairs and wheelchair accessories.

Engagement/Education Material | September 2019

SMBP is Worth It: Increasing Hypertension Self-Management to Accelerate Blood Pressure Control

Shares information on how states partnered with local, and community partners to increase the use of self-managed blood pressure for those with high blood pressure, as well as state-level findings.

Guide/Toolkit | August 2019

Medicaid MCO Survey to Assess Hypertension Control Services

Helps states understand the landscape of covered benefits offered by managed care organizations that target hypertension control services for Medicaid members.

Guide/Toolkit | July 2019

Blood Pressure Log Book

Provides general information on blood pressure, such as definitions, strategies on measuring blood pressure, and tips on healthy eating.

Technical Assistance Tool | November 2018

High Blood Pressure Educational Materials

Shares patient and provider educational materials, ranging from fact sheets and podcasts to data maps and trainings.

Guide/Toolkit | July 2018

Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring: Implementation Guide for Health Care Delivery Organizations

Guides help health care delivery organizations implement SMBP into practice or optimize their existing SMBP processes in a systematic way.

| June 2018

Self-Measurement: How Patients and Care Teams are Bringing Blood Pressure to Control

Showcases several community health centers' work to implement self-measured blood pressure monitoring programs in their clinics.

Video | April 2018

How to Use Your Home Blood Pressure Monitor

Demonstrates a step-by-step process on how to use a home blood pressure monitor.

Guide/Toolkit | February 2017

ASTHO and Million Hearts: Transforming Systems, Saving Lives

Summarizes strategies and lessons from state teams that participated in a collaborative to help strengthen blood pressure control.

Guide/Toolkit | January 2017

Best Practices for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Programs: A Guide to Effective Health Care System Interventions and Community Programs Linked to Clinical Services

Details brief evidence summaries for effective blood pressure and cholesterol control strategies and highlights resources and tools useful for implementing these strategies.

Brief/Report | June 2016

Undiagnosed Hypertension

Highlights lessons and case studies from states that have implemented hypertension diagnosis strategies.

Guide/Toolkit | January 2016

Using the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process to Manage High Blood Pressure: A Resource Guide for Pharmacists

Assists pharmacists to prevent and manage high blood pressure through team-based care.

Guide/Toolkit | December 2015

Implementation Guide for Public Health Practitioners: The Shands Jacksonville Patient-Centered Medical Home Diabetes and Hypertension Self-Management Education Model

Describes key lessons from the evaluation of the Diabetes and Hypertension Self-Management Education model.

Website/Resource Center

Million Hearts Initiative

Provides an array of hands-on materials to help health care practitioners adopt strategies selected for their impact on heart disease, stroke, and related conditions.