Feature

BP screening nearly universal among Medicare enrollees


 

Almost all of Medicare’s 58 million enrollees had a blood pressure screening in 2017, and just under 90% saw a physician during the year, according to new data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Use of various services by Medicare enrollees, 2017

The latest edition of Medicare Beneficiaries at a Glance takes a look at some of the services provided in 2017, and BP checks were high on the list, with 96% of enrollees getting screened. BP was also prominent on another list featured in the Medicare snapshot for 2017, as hypertension was the most common chronic condition among beneficiaries with a prevalence of 58%, the CMS said.

A second glance at the report shows that 41% of enrollees had high cholesterol that year, making it the next-most common chronic condition, with arthritis third at 33%, the CMS said. Diabetes was fourth and heart disease was fifth, but rounding gives them the same prevalence of 27%.

Recommended Reading

Lancet joins movement to reject ‘manels’
Clinician Reviews
FDA takes another swing at updating cigarette pack warnings
Clinician Reviews
Planned Parenthood withdraws from Title X
Clinician Reviews
Addressing the Shortage of Physician Assistants in Medicine Clerkship Sites
Clinician Reviews
Michigan becomes first state to ban flavored e-cigarettes
Clinician Reviews
Advanced team-based care: How we made it work
Clinician Reviews
New study confirms rise in U.S. suicide rates, particularly in rural areas
Clinician Reviews
Medical boards change or consider amending mental health-related licensing questions
Clinician Reviews
Clinician burnout can impact quality of care
Clinician Reviews
Appeals court to hear prescription drug privacy rights case
Clinician Reviews