Disparities in Hypertension Control Care for African Americans

Kaiser Permanente Policy Story Slides

Health disparities and hypertension

African Americans are more likely to develop hypertension at a younger age and are at higher risk of strokes, deaths from heart disease, heart failure and end-stage renal disease.

In 2012, African Americans received worse care than whites for nearly 40 percent of quality measures Examples: hypertension and dehydration admissions

In 2012, African Americans received worse access to care for 33 percent of measures Examples: insurance coverage and wait times

2 | © 2014 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.April 19, 2023

3 | © 2014 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. For internal use only.April 19, 2023

Kaiser Permanente closes the gap

2011 Kaiser Permanente Equity Summit: The Kaiser Permanente goal is to exceed the 90th percentile within the HEDIS measures for all members, and to close any disparity gaps that remain, no matter how small.

Initiatives at Kaiser Permanente:– Expanded access

– Communication building

– Support with healthy behavior changes

– Evidence-based medicine

– Targeted use of HIT

Key Accomplishments

The gaps separating African American Kaiser Permanente patients from white patients in hypertension control have been reduced from 4.8 to 3.6 percent over the last 4 years.

Kaiser Permanente patients, regardless of race, exceed the HEDIS national 90th percentile for control of high blood pressure.

4 | © 2014 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. April 19, 2023

For further information, contact Athan Bezaitis at athan.g.bezaitis@kp.org

To read the full story visit: http://www.kpihp.org/kaiser-permanente-policy-stories-vol-3-no-7-disparities-in-hypertension-care-for-african-americans