HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Google Scholar Articles by Schillo, B. A Articles by An, L. C PubMed Articles by Schillo, B. A Articles by An, L. C

Expanding access to nicotine replacement therapy through Minnesota’s QUITLINE partnership

¹ ClearWay Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
³ Professional Data Analysts, Inc, Minneapolis, MN, USA
² University of Minnesota, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Correspondence to:
Barbara A Schillo, ClearWay Minnesota, Two Appletree Square, Suite 400, 8011 34th Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55425, USA; bschillo{at}clearwaymn.org

Background: Partnerships can expand the reach and effectiveness of quitlines while conserving limited tobacco control dollars.

Objective: To describe how the addition of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to the "QUITPLAN Helpline" in Minnesota influenced triage and transfer to health plan quitlines and how efforts taken to re-establish balance in the partnership expanded population based access to NRT.

Methods: NRT provision began in September 2002. Call volumes, transfer rates and ClearWay Minnesota dollars spent serving health plan members were examined from May 2001 through November 2005. The process by which health plan quitlines began providing NRT as a result of the addition of NRT to the QUITPLAN Helpline in September 2002 was explored through interviews with health plan representatives.

Results: Following the addition of NRT to the QUITPLAN Helpline, the percentage of health plan members transferred to their health plans decreased because callers were resisting transfer to their health plans for telephone counselling that did not include NRT. Transfer rates eventually returned to pre-NRT levels following sequential implementation of scripting changes, transfer requirements and collection of health plan identification numbers. These changes reduced ClearWay Minnesota dollars spent on providing services to insured Minnesotans. Through the partnership, all Minnesotans currently have access to both telephone counselling and NRT either at no or low cost.

Conclusions: Minnesota’s partnership has effectively expanded access to NRT through quitlines. The increased use of partnerships for providing quitline services may be effective in broadening population access while conserving limited tobacco control dollars for those without cessation benefits.

Abbreviations: NRT, nicotine replacement therapy

Keywords: nicotine replacement therapy; quitlines; United States

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Lichtenstein Quitlines Tob. Control, December 1, 2007; 16(Suppl_1): i1 - i2. [Full Text] [PDF]