High blood pressure remains a critical public health challenge, affecting nearly 120 million American adults, yet only about a quarter have their condition under control. A higher rate of hypertension among rural residents remains a major factor that may contribute to their higher risk of potentially preventable premature deaths compared to urban residents. The consequences of uncontrolled hypertension are severe and far-reaching—from heart attacks and strokes to chronic kidney disease and cognitive decline. These outcomes are largely preventable through effective blood pressure management.
The Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge recognizes clinicians, medical practices, and health systems in the United States and its territories that have helped at least 80% of their patients with high blood pressure get it under control. Since 2012, Million Hearts® has recognized 199 Hypertension Control Champions in 44 states and has shared their successful strategies for blood pressure control.
The 2026 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge is open from March 10 through April 30, 2026, for applications to join these outstanding health care professionals.
- Team-Based Care to Manage Hypertension in Rural Iowa (Sioux Center, Iowa)
- Hypertension Control Innovation in Rural Settings (Bering Strait region in Alaska)
- Excellence in Hypertension Control in a Rural Setting (Lamar, Colorado)
- Rural Kansas Physicians Collaborate to Control Patients’ Blood Pressure (Plainville, Kansas)
Join this collaborative effort to prevent heart disease and stroke nationwide by:
- Encouraging high-performing practices, large or small, to enter the 2026 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge.
- Inviting those who have not yet reached 80% blood pressure control to read Champion success stories and use the Hypertension Control Change Package to find resources that can help.
- Promoting the Challenge by reaching out to practices that are achieving 80% control and sharing social media messages and graphics about the Challenge and the importance of blood pressure control.
Hypertension Control Champions will be announced in the fall of 2026. If you have questions, please email millionhearts@cdc.gov with “Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge” in the subject line.