Cessation Systems Coordination

The Cessation Program is responsible for a statewide collaborative effort to implement a population-based cessation assessment and assistance program for adults and youth. The program utilizes a variety of effective participant recruitment strategies and multiple delivery systems; assesses the availability and accessibility of cessation services and products throughout the state; analyzes the current laws, policies, and performance measures addressing tobacco use, cessation, and secondhand smoke exposure and assures that they are integrated into OSDH clinical standards; provides training and consultation to health care providers, insurers, and purchasers of insurance regarding effective cessation programs and strategies; and pursues other appropriate activities to promote the accessibility and availability of effective cessation services for all Oklahomans.

Guideline Recommendations for Systems Changes

These six strategies are recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence:

• Every clinic should implement a tobacco-user identification system.
• All health care systems should provide education, resources and feedback to promote provider interventions.
• Clinical sites should dedicate staff to provide tobacco dependence treatment and assess the delivery of this treatment in staff performance evaluations.
• Hospitals should promote policies that support and provide tobacco dependence services.
• Insurers and managed care organizations (MCOs) should include tobacco dependence treatments (both counseling and pharmacotherapy) as paid or covered services for all subscribers or members of health insurance packages.
• Insurers and MCOs should reimburse clinicians and specialists for delivery of effective tobacco dependence treatments and include these interventions among the defined duties of clinicians.

These six strategies have been demonstrated to be effective as part of a coordinated effort to provide consistent and effective tobacco interventions. Employing them will result in an increase in smoking cessation and a reduction in the costs resulting from tobacco-caused disease.

Resources

• CDC Office on Smoking Health
• Addressing Tobacco in Managed Care: A Resource Guide for Health Plans 
• Guide To Community Preventive Services 

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

Phone: (405) 271-3619
Fax: (405) 271-9053