Tobacco Cessation

Making a Difference in Members’ Health

Fall 2019

The annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey asks members to report on their experiences with their health plan and with health care services in different settings. The CAHPS survey covers a variety of topics such as the communication of health providers and ease of accessing health care services.  Neighborhood Health of Plan of Rhode Island (Neighborhood) uses the survey results to improve the quality of health care services our members’ experience.

Included in the CAHPS survey are the following questions related to the Medical Assistance with Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation:

  • Does the member currently smoke or use tobacco?
  • Has the member been advised to quit by a doctor or health provider?
  • Did a doctor or health provider discuss or recommend medication to help quit tobacco use?
  • Did a doctor or health provider discuss or provide methods and strategies other than medication to quit?

Overall results from the 2019 CAHPS survey show the following:

CAHPS Survey Question Survey Results
Members who use tobacco were advised to quit 80.18%
Providers discussed cessation medications 61.09%
Providers discussed strategies to quit 53.78%

 

Providers are doing a great job asking patients about tobacco use, advising them to quit, and providing them with information regarding tobacco cessation and resources where they can receive assistance with quitting tobacco use. Continuing these efforts will improve the health and wellness of our members.

Ongoing provider efforts in the area of tobacco cessation, such as those sponsored by Care Transformation Collaborative Rhode Island (CTC-RI) are very much appreciate as well as providers’ referral of our members to Neighborhood’s Quit for Life Tobacco Cessation Program. If you would like to refer your Neighborhood patients to the Quit for Life program, please have them call Neighborhood’s Member Services at 1-(800)-459-6019. To view additional resources, please view the following link http://tobaccofree-ri.org/cessation-resources.htm