Minnesota Cancer Alliance Tobacco
Cessation Coverage Work Group

October 2, 2007

11:30 to 1:30 p.m.

ClearWay Minnesota^SM

 8011 34^th Avenue South, Suite 400

Minneapolis, MN 55425

Attendees: Michael Burke, Ed.D. – Mayo; Darla Havlicek – BCBSMN; Jane Korn MD, MPH - MDH; Alexander Levitan MD, MPH; Angie Rolle – ACS; Jan Sieger RN, MPH, FNP – MDH; Ann Wendling MD, MPH – ClearWay Minnesota

• Brief Summary of QUITPLAN Services and Call it Quits Helpline Collaborative – Ann and Darla 
   
• Summary of Current Status of Cessation Coverage in Minnesota - Ann
  Jan Sieger reported that state employees including legislators who complete an anonymous health risk assessment will have comprehensive cessation coverage including pharmaceuticals without co-pay as of January 1, 2008.
   
• Background of the Cancer Alliance and the strategies included in its objective: Reduce the use of tobacco – Jane and Darla
   
• Work Group Goals and Objectives  

Goal: to increase the percentage of Minnesota tobacco users who have coverage for cessation services including counseling and pharmacotherapy

            1. Challenge and engage all insurers, employers, and purchasers to include evidence-  based tobacco dependence treatment as part of their basic health benefits package.

2. Publicly recognize health insurance plans and healthcare facilities that meet or exceed smoking cessation guidelines.

• Discussion Surrounding Change Agents 

-Self-insured employers

            -Buyers Health Care Action Group

            -Young adults
            -Minnesota Hospital Association

            -Health plans

            -ACS – alone and collaboratively with health plans

• Initial Action Steps and Timeline            

            -Promote and leverage state employee cessation roll-out with emphasis on
             legislators (Jan) 

            -Identification of self-insured employers – BHCAG or workmen’s comp

             records (Ann)          

            -Compile ROI data - ACS, BCBSMN, Mayo (Angie, Darla, and Michael)     

            -Explore feasibility of recognition awards – possibly coordinate with ACS
             (Angie)

            -Explore cessation coverage in clinic groups (Al)

            -Distribute member contact list to facilitate active communication (Ann)

• Summary Report - to be presented to Cancer Alliance Steering Committee Oct 11
   
• Next meeting – 6-8 weeks at ClearWay Minnesota

 Materials distributed at meeting:

-Cancer Plan Minnesota 2005-2010

-Minnesota Cancer Alliance 2006 Year-End Report

-Covering risk but not risky behaviors: A critical review of the arguments for insurance
 coverage for smoking-cessation therapies. Cyril F. Chang, PhD. Managed Care.
 May 2001.

-ERISA could prevent state efforts to expand health care access: Christian Science
 Monitor Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report. September 27, 2007.

-Health reform, leave benefits may see state action. 2007 Mercer Health and
 Benefits, LLC.

-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A Practical Guide to Working with
 Health-Care Systems on Tobacco-Use Treatment. Atlanta, GA: U.S. DHHS, CDC,
 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on
 Smoking and Health; 2006.

                        -ClearWay Minnesota Provider Tobacco Intervention Card

                        -Health plan collaborative helpline card