Does Medicaid Cover Blood Pressure Monitors?
According to several reports, hypertension, or high blood pressure, causes 691,095 deaths in the United States. These people are at risk of suffering a stroke or even a heart attack. However, reports show that half of the adults (48.1% or 119.9 million) suffer from hypertension. Measuring your blood pressure regularly is essential to maintain normal blood pressure.
According to the American Heart Association, home blood pressure monitors are essential for people with hypertension. However, blood pressure monitors are usually expensive. In such situations, one wonders if Medicaid covers blood pressure monitors. This article answers this query in detail.
Medicaid and Cost of Blood Pressure Monitors
Since 2018, Medicaid has covered the cost of blood pressure monitors when prescribed by a doctor to treat hypertension. In addition, Medicaid also covers the cost of using wearable blood pressure monitors at home.
Blood pressure monitors are classified as “durable medical equipment” and come in a variety of designs. Medicaid covers specific medical devices, and this policy varies from state to state. In some states, Medicaid insurance policy specifically covers blood pressure monitors.
In others, Medicaid only covers certain types of blood pressure monitors. Still, there are some states without specific regulations regarding blood pressure monitors.
The best way to know is to contact your state’s Medicaid office or consult with your healthcare provider.
Cost of Blood Pressure Monitors Without Medicaid
The exact cost of blood pressure monitors depends on the type of device and the place you buy it. According to consumer reports, personal blood pressure monitors range between $30 to $120 and over.
Getting an automatic monitor that does not require a stethoscope is more efficient. These are the easiest to operate and maintain at home and also provide accurate readings. Make sure to buy blood pressure monitoring devices that are FDA-approved and medically validated for the best results.
How to Get a Medicaid-sponsored Blood Pressure Monitor?
Once you have determined your eligibility from your healthcare and insurance provider, you do not need a prescription to buy a blood pressure monitor. You can simply walk into your local pharmacy, medical supply store, discount store or even online and buy with Medicaid benefits.
There is a large variety of blood pressure monitors to choose from. For instance, you can choose between manual and automatic monitors. These are designed to indicate if your medication needs to be adjusted or if you need to make additional lifestyle changes. It is easy to share the readings of these advanced blood pressure monitors with your doctor.
According to the American Heart Association, the best blood pressure monitor is the automatic cuff-style monitor that is worn on the upper arm. You can buy this blood pressure monitor depending on the size of your arm for a comfortable fit.
How Much Money Does Medicaid Cover for Blood Pressure Monitors?
Here are the different types of blood pressure monitors that are usually covered under a Medicaid insurance program:
1 – Blood Pressure Cuffs – BP cuffs fit on your upper arms, and air fills the band. Once the air is released, the blood flow resumes in your brachial artery in clearly detectable pulsing waves. Medicaid offers up to 80% coverage of the actual cost of blood pressure cuffs, while the remaining 20% has to be borne by the policyholder.
2 – Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitors – ABPM devices monitor patients’ blood pressure throughout the day at regular intervals and keep a record of the readings between 24 and 48 hours. ABPM is a small and portable device that’s considered one of the most accurate blood pressure monitors. Medicaid offers to help bear the cost of renting ambulatory blood pressure monitors only if expressly advised by your healthcare provider.
Conclusion
Medicaid offers to cover the cost of certain blood pressure monitors in select states only. Some states allow Medicaid beneficiaries to bear the partial expense of renting or buying a blood pressure monitoring device. It is strongly advised to talk with your physician or insurance provider to know the specific regulations in your state regarding Medicaid coverage for blood pressure monitors.
See Also
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Does Medicaid Cover Dental Implants?
Does Medicaid Cover Hearing Aids?
I am a dedicated healthcare researcher and an enthusiast specializing in medical grants, medical education and research. Through my articles, I aim to empower healthcare professionals and researchers with valuable insights and resources to navigate these critical aspects effectively.
Having sharpened her skills as a validation manager in the fast-paced world of Cybersecurity over a decade, Andrea now applies her expertise to raise the standards of the fact-checking space. As a meticulous fact-checker, she diligently validates the claims presented in our articles, leaving no room for misinformation or ambiguity.
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