Texas Healthcare Organizations Recognized for Hypertension Control Efforts Through National Initiative

The American Heart Association and American Medical Association have recognized 2,307 healthcare organizations for their commitment to improving hypertension control through the Target: BP initiative, which has helped more than 10.6 million people with high blood pressure. This recognition comes at a critical time when nearly half of U.S. adults—122.4 million people—live with hypertension, yet only a quarter have their blood pressure under control according to the American Heart Association 2025 Statistical Update.

Launched in 2015 by the two organizations, Target: BP provides healthcare teams with evidence-based frameworks and resources to improve blood pressure management. The initiative leverages American Heart Association science and the AMA MAP framework to help care teams organize their approach to providing evidence-based care. This year's participating organizations span 49 states or U.S. territories and serve more than 38 million patients, demonstrating the widespread impact of this collaborative effort.

Among the recognized organizations, nearly 60% received Gold or Gold+ award level recognition for achieving blood pressure control rates of 70% or greater. Approximately 37% of awardees achieved Silver or Silver+ recognition for adopting evidence-based activities, while the remainder received Participation-level recognition for submitting data for the first time and committing to reducing uncontrolled blood pressure cases. This tiered recognition system encourages continuous improvement and standardization of hypertension care across diverse healthcare settings.

Dr. Stacey Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, emphasized the significance of this effort, stating that hypertension accounts for nearly $50 billion in annual healthcare costs in the U.S. and often goes unnoticed until serious damage occurs. The program demonstrates how healthcare organizations can work to close gaps in blood pressure control through patient awareness and education, potentially saving billions in healthcare expenditures while improving patient outcomes.

Since its inception, more than 4,900 healthcare organizations have joined the Target: BP movement, with approximately 80% of participating organizations maintaining continuous engagement year after year. More than 40% of participating organizations are nonprofit health centers that receive federal funding to reach medically underserved populations, highlighting the initiative's focus on health equity and addressing disparities in cardiovascular care access.

AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala noted that hypertension control is achievable when physicians, care teams, and patients work together, with the Target: BP program providing the necessary tools for effective partnership and quality care management. The initiative represents a significant step toward addressing heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, by creating scalable models for preventive care that can be implemented across various healthcare systems and patient populations.