Be Recognized as a 2022 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Champion

Apply to be a Hypertension Control Champion!   Be Recognized as a 2022 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Champion Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is common and concerning, but it is often preventable, detectable, and controllable. Yet only 1 in 4 adults living with hypertension have it well controlled. The Hypertension Control Challenge identifies and spotlights health care professionals, practices, and systems that have achieved high control rates. Since 2012, Million Hearts® has recognized 133 Hypertension Control Champions and 8 Hypertension Control Exemplars, together serving more than 15 million adults across 40 states.   The past 2 years have been especially challenging—both for health care systems and for individuals. Nonetheless, some health care professionals and systems have continued to focus on controlling hypertension and have achieved control among 80% of their patients. Million Hearts® wants to encourage these practices to apply to be recognized as Champions.   Please help us reach out to clinicians, practices, and health systems and encourage high performers to submit an application for the 2022 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge. Visit https://hypertension.millionhearts.hhs.gov/ to see the details and apply. The Challenge will be open from June 22 through September 7, 2022.   If you have questions about the Challenge, email millionhearts@cdc.gov, subject line “Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge.” Please help us spread the word and join your peers across the nation in building a healthier America. There has never been a more important time to rise to this challenge. Yours in health,   Laurence Sperling, M.D., FACC, FACP, FAHA, FASPC Executive Director, Million Hearts®   Apply for the Challenge   Tools You Can Use Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Change Package (HCCP) provides guidance for improving hypertension control in outpatient settings. The HCCP, second edition, includes lists of interventions, strategies, and evidence-based tools that health centers and clinics can tailor to use for their own hypertension control programs.   Apply the HCCP (PDF, 1.7 MB) Medicaid chart provides information on self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) by state. An American Medical Association chart shows states’ coverage for SMBP clinical services and automated blood pressure devices and standalone cuffs. The chart highlights the states reimbursing providers for SMBP and allowing Medicaid patients to obtain automated blood pressure devices.   Use Chart to Inform State Policy (PDF, 197 KB)   Target: BP™ offers access to the latest research, tools, and resources to improve blood pressure control. Target: BP™, created by the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association, is a quality improvement and recognition program that helps health care organizations and care teams improve blood pressure control rates.   Check Out Target: BP™ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers guide to integrating patient-generated digital health data into electronic health records. Integrating Patient-Generated Health Data into Electronic Health Records in Ambulatory Care Settings: A Practical Guide helps ambulatory care practices design and implement patient-generated health data programs that can improve patient outcomes.   View the Guide (PDF, 6.1 MB)   Sodium Reduction in Communities Program (SRCP) Implementation Guide helps food service staff and public health organizations reduce sodium. Food service staff can use the guide to plan, implement, and maintain sodium reduction activities. The guide can also help public health staff determine how to support partners in planning, implementing, and maintaining sodium reduction strategies to achieve lasting change.   Read the SRCP Implementation Guide       Quick Fact “Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects nearly 1 in 2 U.S. adults and is a major preventable risk factor for heart disease and stroke.” — The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension (PDF, 1.9 MB)     Million Hearts® in the Community Case study outlines approach for achieving 80% hypertension control. A case study from the National Association of Community Health Centers and Million Hearts® describes Miami Beach Community Health Center’s three-pillar approach to addressing hypertension and maintaining control of high blood pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Check Out the Case Study (PDF, 128 KB) National Association of Chronic Disease Directors launches database of state and territorial success. The Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Success Stories Database helps chronic disease units educate policymakers and peers about evidence-based and innovative programs they have implemented to reduce the burden of chronic disease in their communities.   View the Success Stories Database   New National Hypertension Control Roundtable (NHCR) website addresses how to make hypertension control a national priority. The NHCR is a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to eliminating disparities in hypertension control. Its new website highlights tools and resources created and shared by members. Join the NHCR to make hypertension control a national priority.   Visit the New NHCR Website   New Funding Announcement from The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The goal of this NOFO is to advance health IT standards and tools to improve social determinants of health data exchange and research, and to develop tools for making electronic health record data research- and AI-ready.   View the NOFO     The Science of Million Hearts® The prevalence of controlled blood pressure declined from 2009 to 2012 through 2017 to 2020 among US adults ≥75 years of age, non-Hispanic Black adults, and women. (Hypertension)   AHA's presidential advisory provides a framework to consider knowledge gaps and research needs critical toward achieving equitable health care for all women. (Circulation)   There were significant declines in the prevalence of cigarette smoking between 2006 and 2019 among US adults with major depressive episode, substance use disorder, or both. (J Am Med Assoc)   Concerning gaps in appropriate statin use remain among younger patients, women, and those with noncoronary ASCVD. (J Am Coll Cardiol)   Incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy has increased significantly from 2007 to 2019 and contributed to trends in preterm delivery and low birth weight. (J Am Heart Assoc) ​ Do This! Do you know any practices that have achieved blood pressure control for at least 80% of their adult patients? Send the link for the Hypertension Control Challenge to at least one practice that you would like to see apply.   Share the Hypertension Control Challenge   Stay Connected To be featured in the Million Hearts® e-Update, email your resources, tools, and activities to millionhearts@cdc.gov.

 

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