Hypertension as a Principal Diagnosis Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Did you know?

• According to the CDC, nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension, but only about 1 in 4 have it under control.
• In 2018, hypertension was a primary or contributing cause of death for almost a half million people in the U.S.
• Hypertension costs the U.S. about $131 billion annually.

Why should I care?

• Having hypertension increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the U.S.  The CDC has also indicated that hypertension might put people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
• Many people with hypertension do not know that they have this condition, and it is often called the “silent killer.”
• According to a recent study, awareness among Americans about hypertension and how to control and treat it is now on the decline.

What should I do?

• Review the hypertension data presented here, which highlights significant variation among the states in shifts of care, resources consumed, and costs to the Medicare FFS system. How does your state compare in making the shift to office place of service in treating this condition?
• Review current practices to see:
• if improvements can be made in the way you engage and educate your patients and your community about the risks and management of hypertension
• whether there are telehealth opportunities to safely provide care to patients during the current pandemic
• whether technology monitoring can be used to ensure compliance with treatment plans