Cessation Benefits Project Team Minutes

June 13, 2008

12:30-2:00

ClearWay Minnesota

Attendees:

Anne Joseph – University of Minnesota

Jane Korn – Minnesota Dept. of Health

Pat McKone – American Lung Association

Ann Wendling - ClearWay Minnesota

Jan Sieger – Minnesota Dept. of Health

Susan Weisman – Tobacco Law Center

AGENDA

·         Welcome to Pat McKone – new member

·         Review of team progress to date- Ann

·         Review of April 22nd Cancer Summit Working session: Expanding Smoking   Cessation Benefits 

Ann will contact attendees who said they are interested in joining the team and did not attend today’s meeting.

·         Review Team Goal/Objectives

Tracked changes are recommended:

Charge to Team: to reduce the number of Minnesotans who use tobacco

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

            Tactics:

            1. Challenge and engage all insurers, employers, and purchasers to include and promote 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 ensued regarding the importance of having a good quantitative baseline measurement of cessation benefits in Minnesota to be able to monitor the team’s progress. As we move forward, it will also be very important to further define the exact level of cessation coverage the team would recommend.

Although there was a fairly good response rate to the last employer benefit survey, it was determined that the survey content should be further examined for possible modification and that a comprehensive effort should be made to repeat the survey to reach as many employers in MN as possible. This might also serve as an awareness tool and should be accomplished as soon as possible, prior to employer determination of coverage for their employees in 2009. It may also serve to identify several outstanding employer benefit packages that deserve recognition.

It was decided that no further financial resources are needed at this time, but there may be opportunity to further enlist the aide of members of the Steering Committee in addition to the team members.