Abstract 150: Disparities in Blood Pressure Screening in Adults: An Analysis of NAMCS-NHAMCS Data

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure (BP) screening in adults has been identified by the US Preventive Services Task Force as a Grade A recommendation. OBJECTIVE: To compare BP screening rates in adult patients among payer sources and provider types in two national probability samples of outpatient office visits. DESIGN/METHODS: An analysis of visit data for all patients 18 years and older in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey-Outpatient Department (OPD) during the years 2005-2009 was performed. Data on 279,510 patient visits were analyzed, including adults seen in ambulatory or office-based settings (NAMCS, N=147,675) and hospital outpatient departments (OPD, N=131,835). BP screening rates were compared based on provider type (Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics-Gynecology, and Cardiovascular Specialist) and payer source (Private Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Self Pay). Results: Overall, BP screening rates were higher in the OPD sample (65.70% vs, 55.83%, p Conclusions: Analysis of two national probability samples reflected marked disparity in BP screening in adult patients based on payer source and provider type.