Aetna Medicaid and NACHC team up to tackle hypertension

A new partnership between Aetna Medicaid and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) aims to address hypertension rates in select Aetna Medicaid member communities, according to a recent news release.

In the United States, nearly half (48%) of adults have high blood pressure, but approximately only 1 in 5 adults realize they have it, which has earned it the nickname “the silent killer.” In 2023, it was the contributing or primary cause of death in 664,470 individuals. Beyond mortality, uncontrolled hypertension significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and other serious complications that can diminish quality of life.

High blood pressure is also expensive. Annually, it costs the United States $131 billion to $219 billion, placing a significant burden on both families and the broader health care system.

Hypertension is more common in certain areas of the country, particularly in underserved and rural communities where access to consistent care may be limited. For this reason, this initiative will focus on Aetna Medicaid members living in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Virginia.

The NACHC is a non-profit healthcare organization founded in 1965. Their Community Health Centers (CHC) serve 1 in 7 Americans, making them the largest health care system in the United States. There are more than 17,000 sites today that provide primary, preventive and long-term care for individuals regardless of their ability to pay. In 2024, CHCs cared for more than 6 million patients with hypertension and reduced blood pressure in 67% of patients.

“Community Health Centers are uniquely positioned to close gaps in hypertension care because they are effective, trusted providers,” Kyu Rhee, M.D., MPP, president and CEO of NACHC, said in the news release. “Working with Aetna Medicaid, we will scale proven strategies that meet people where they are, strengthen primary care teams, and address the factors that contribute to uncontrolled blood pressure.”

Risk factors for developing high blood pressure include eating a high-salt diet, drinking excessive alcohol, being overweight or obese and genetics.

To address symptoms, physicians may prescribe a medication and recommend lifestyle changes such as exercise. However, this advice can be challenging if patients face barriers to cost and transportation. For example, a patient with high blood pressure may not have a car to go to appointments, lack sufficient income for prescriptions or live in an area where there is an absence of healthy food options. This is especially true for Medicaid members, a majority of whom live at or below the federal poverty line, according to Kara Odom Walker, M.D., M.P.H., CMO for Aetna Medicaid.

“By collaborating with NACHC and community health centers, we can combine data, on-the-ground expertise, and evidence-based tools to better support blood pressure control and help members live longer, healthier lives,” Walker said in the news release.