In-office blood pressure readings abnormally high?

Tips for ensuring an accurate reading for hypertension quality measures

Many of our Generations Advantage network providers are affiliated with Accountable Care Organizations we work closely with on various quality measures, including blood pressure management. The current HEDIS® quality metric goal for patients with a history of hypertension is to have a blood pressure <140/90 at their last visit of the year.

Here are tips for ensuring an accurate reading for HEDIS purposes:

• If your patient’s in-office, initial blood pressure reading is elevated beyond what they identify as their normal range, we recommend taking a second reading later into the appointment and recording this reading if it is lower/within their normal range.
• If the reading remains elevated, a member’s lower reported in-home blood pressure reading from an automated device does count as long as it’s the last reading performed in the year. NOTE: If an office visit takes place after this in-home reading was recorded, another in-office reading must be performed at that visit and recorded as the last reading of the year.

Member benefit reminder

As part of our Generations Advantage Over-The-Counter benefit, members receive a quarterly amount to purchase from select CVS-brand, OTC products, including automated blood pressure monitors. For more details & the full product list, visit the Over-The-Counter (OTC) Benefits page.