OBJECTIVES : To evaluate whether the Ochsner Health System’s Hypertension Digital Medicine Program (HDMP) improved enrollee blood pressure (BP), and utilization.

METHODS : Patients with hypertension (HTN) could enroll in Ochsner’s HDMP. Program benefits include blood pressure tele-monitoring in home, pharmacy management and in-depth education. Patients had to be residents of Louisiana and have no history of a heart or kidney transplant. The treatment group included all patients enrolled in the HDMP and were continuously enrolled in Quality Blue Primary Care at least 6 months before and after the HDMP participation date. Propensity scoring was used to match the treatment group to a control population, not being managed by Ochsner PCPs. Patients were further categorized by whether or not their BP was controlled, defined as less than 140/90 mmHg in the baseline period. Difference-in-difference regression models was used to measure the program effects on BP control, healthcare utilization, medication adherence and costs.

RESULTS : After matching, each of the cohorts BP controlled and uncontrolled at baseline had a total of 244 and 167 patient pairs, respectively. Members in the treatment group, regardless of whether or not their BP was controlled at baseline had significantly improved their BP and HTN related medication adherence. Emergency department and specialty visits were also lower for the treatment group who had uncontrolled BP at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS : Ochsner Health System’s HDMP improved enrollee BP, medication adherence, and healthcare utilization.