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
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.
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.
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.
