Cessation benefits.pub

3 Fundamentals of Comprehensive
Cessation Benefits
Cessation treatments are a proven prevention to ol that will reduce disease and save health care costs, yet only 1 in 50 employers in the U.S. and only six states offer all evidence-based treat- ♦ 40% of smokers make a quit attempt each year. Most will not use an evidenced-based cessation treatment while trying to quit. 3-5% of smokers will actually stop smoking. ♦ Providing tobacco users with access to both medication and cessation counseling increases quit rates by ♦ Smokers and other tobacco users need access to a range of treatments and combinations to find the most effective cessation tools that work for them. Not all tobacco users are the same; they vary in what products they use, how much, how often, and individual medical conditions. ♦ Nicotine addiction is classified as, and should be treated as, a chronic disease. Tobacco users often need several attempts over a period of years to quit successfully. ♦ Including cessation treatments as a covered health benefit increases quit rates by 30%. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and Medications Cessation benefits should include all seven FDA-approved over-the-counter and prescription therapies. These benefits should be automatically updatable as the universe of FDA-approved therapies changes. Although many private health plans and government-sponsored plans offer some form of counseling, most do not offer a range of effective options. Evidence on cessation counseling shows that: ♦ Person-to person counseling over at least 4 sessions is especially effective at increasing quit rates, including group and individual therapy and telephone quitlines. ♦ Longer and more frequent counseling sessions are more effective than more limited sessions in getting people to quit. ♦ Face-to-face counseling should be conducted by a physician or other qualified heath professional using evidence-based tools and techniques, such as practical counseling (problem-solving and skills training) and supportive counseling (encouragement, willingness to help). ♦ Internet resources are a growing source of cessation information, but insufficient evidence exists to recommend this as a primary cessation tool. A comprehensive cessation counseling program or benefit should allow for multiple in-person sessions with a ♦ Cost-sharing, such as deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance should be minimal. ♦ Benefits should not be limited by pre-authorization requirements or other administrative challenges that can limit tobacco users’ access to cessation treatments. ♦ Evidence shows that even small fees can deter people from using preventative services. Cost Sharing (co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance)
Cessation services should include all evidenced-based medications and
counseling treatments to improve quit rates and save lives.
Key Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs—2007. Atlanta. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. October 2007. Fiore MC, Bailey Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. 2008 Update. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., Public Health Service. May 2008. ACS CAN supports an integrated, three-pronged approach to reduce tobacco use: 1) increase the price of tobacco products by raising tobacco taxes, 2) implement comprehensive smoke-free policies and repeal preemption laws, and 3) fully fund and sustain evidence-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs. All three strategies are necessary to reduce tobacco use and the more than 400,000 premature deaths from tobacco that occur every year in the U.S.

Source: http://www.siena.edu/uploadedfiles/home/student_life/student_affairs/dean_of_students/Cessation%20Benefits.pdf