Impact of Cost-Sharing on Self-Measured Blood Pressure: Cost and Prescription Abandonment for Home BP Monitors in a Large FQHC.

BACKGROUND

Self-measured blood pressure is an important tool for diagnosing and controlling hypertension. Current insurance coverage for home blood pressure monitors varies widely, creating potential barriers to implementation.

METHODS

This observational study was conducted in a large, multisite Federally Qualified Health Center in Tucson, AZ, between 2023 and 2024. We compared prescription rates and fill rates during two 6-month periods: the final six months of grant-funded free monitor distribution (2023, n = 2,619 prescriptions, 2,357 fills) vs. the first 6 months after grant end when patients were charged approximately $35 (2024, n = 1,630 prescriptions, 974 fills). Data were extracted from the electronic health records system and analyzed using R version 4.2.3.

RESULTS

After cost-sharing implementation, two distinct effects reduced monitor distribution: prescription fill rates decreased from 90.0% to 59.8% (30.2% reduction, 95% CI [27.8%, 32.2%]), and providers sent 38% fewer prescriptions. The combined effect of both reduced prescribing and lower fill rates resulted in 59% fewer patients receiving monitors (974 vs. 2,357).

CONCLUSIONS

In this single-center study, cost-sharing was associated with substantial reductions in both prescribing and filling of home BP monitor prescriptions.