This article series is our monthly tool to help you maximize patient health outcomes in accordance with NCQA?s¹ HEDIS^®2 measurements for high-quality care on important dimensions of services.

HEDIS^® definition

Controlling High Blood Pressure (CBP): The percentage of commercial and Medicare members ages 18 ? 85 who had a diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) and whose blood pressure was adequately controlled (

Quick tips for improvement

• ✔ Measure a patient?s blood pressure at the beginning and end of each visit, making sure to record the lower value.
• ✔ Provide patients with educational resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/materials_for_patients.htm.

Support from Amerihealth New Jersey

AmeriHealth New Jersey case managers can collaborate with you to support and guide your patients through an acute or chronic episode to help achieve the medical treatment goals you establish. AmeriHealth New Jersey case managers can support your patients as they make important decisions about their health. Ask your AmeriHealth New Jersey patients to call 1-888-YOUR-AH1 (1-888-968-7241) and say "Case Management" when prompted.

Stars³ Alert!

Controlling High Blood Pressure is also a Medicare Stars measure.

HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Used with permission.

¹ The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is the most widely recognized accreditation program in the U.S.

² The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is an NCQA tool used by more than 90 percent of U.S. health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care.

³ Stars is a program developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to measure quality health care. Ratings are published annually to help educate consumers prior to enrollment decisions.