Blue Review
A newsletter for physician, professional, facility, ancillary and Medicaid providers

July 2017

FEP® Self-measured Blood Pressure Monitoring

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program® (FEP) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are working together to provide physicians with resources designed to improve health outcomes for patients with hypertension or suspected hypertension. This effort supports the goals of the Million Hearts® initiative.

Information covering self-measured blood pressure monitoring, a component of the Improving Health Outcomes: Blood Pressure Program developed by the AMA, is designed to help you and your office staff engage your patients in the self-measurement of their own blood pressure. According to a 15-member task force appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when physicians and their office staff engage their patients in the self-measurement of their own blood pressure combined with additional support (i.e., patient counseling, education or web-based support), self-measured blood pressure monitoring becomes very effective and cost efficient.

Free Blood Pressure Monitors
In support of this effort, FEP initiated a program to provide free blood pressure monitors* to FEP enrollees over age 18 who have a diagnosis of hypertension or have high blood pressure without a diagnosis of hypertension. If you have a patient who completes the Blue Health Assessment (BHA) and reports they have high blood pressure, and then you and your patient discuss home monitoring, your patient is then eligible to receive a free blood pressure monitor.

Wellness Incentive Program
The BHA is a health-risk assessment and the first step in the FEP Wellness Incentive program. In addition to the free blood pressure monitor, members can earn financial incentives for completing the BHA and for achieving goals related to a healthy lifestyle. FEP members can go to www.fepblue.org for more information.

Please do not hesitate to contact FEP Customer Service at 800-442-4607 for more details regarding this program.

*The blood pressure monitors were selected by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The AMA does not endorse any particular brand or model of blood pressure monitor.

The above material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own best medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the best course of treatment.