To prevent illness and maintain the health of the individual is the original hallmark of managed care. To this end, we would expect the quarter of the US population served by managed care to receive equal treatment, with more intensive efforts geared towards making the sick population healthier. However, the percent of smokers being advised to quit by their PCP during visits differ, with rates varying across plans and across member demographics. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) annually collects the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans survey (HEDIS/CAHPS® 2.0H), which captures a consumer’s experience with healthcare, member demographics and advice to quit smoking rates. Preliminary findings show that there are large differences between top and bottom performing plans on the Advising Smokers to Quit measure. On average, 63% of smokers were advised to quit, with plans in the top 10th percentile achieving a rate of 71%, and plans in the bottom 90th percentile achieving a rate of 52%. Differences may be due to regional variation, individual demographic difference, or other plan characteristics. Averaged across plans, 42.6% smokers, 18.6% self-reported health status as ‘excellent’, and 78% of individuals age 18-64 years are available for this study. NCQA will explore if the receipt of doctor advice to quit smoking is influenced by individual characteristics of smokers and whether rates are higher in plans committed to reporting health care quality data. Understanding the characteristics of plans with high advice rates can be used to help improve the rates for those who don’t.
See www.ncqa.org
Learning Objectives: 1.Convey the importance of prioritizing smoking cessation as an intervention activity in Commercial Managed Care organizations. 2.Recognize differences in health care delivery for persons receiving advice to quit smoking. 3.Assess opportunties for improvements in plans with lower Advising Smokers to Quit rates.
Keywords: Health Care Delivery, Smoking Cessation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee