Table 1

PacifiCare StopSmoking implementation plan (draft). MCO network model

Action item		Comments/updates
1	Conduct needs assessment by market	Establish appropriateness of implementing programs, ie, % of members that smoke, % of Spanish speaking members, high risk segments, etc
2	Develop goals and objectives for the program	Meeting NCQA/HEDIS initiatives, decreasing smoking prevalence, decreasing medical costs, added value to PacifiCare PMG's, increase PMG referral, added value to PacifiCare clients (employers), etc
3	In conjunction with developing the goals and objectives, identify targeted populations	ie, Secure Horizons, commercial, adolescents, high risk: diabetics, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, pregnancy, etc
4	Determine program evaluation process	Provide employer, provider, member data and quit rate reports in aggregate and by market. Develop program database for tracking progress and measurable results
5	Develop marketing and communications plan	Determine strategy of promotion to providers, members and employers
6	Assess pharmacy benefit options in support of a covered smoking cessation aid	Determine if nicotine patches are currently a covered benefit. Assess feasibility/cost of covering smoking cessation aids as part of the StopSmoking program
7	Assess filing program as core or added value benefit. Determine member co-pay	Present and discuss with commercial and government agencies, benefits administrators/committees
8	Identify regulatory agencies by market that need to be involved	HCFA, DOC, DOI, etc
9	File programs/promotion with regulatory agencies	Provide program overview/materials to corporate legal and regulatory (L&R) affairs, corporate L&R to facilitate regional L&R communication, market program manager to facilitate internal/market L&R communication
10	Determine method of program enrollment for the StopSmoking program	Enrollment process options. First option: member calls customer service. Information which would need to be collected includes: member name, member number, member date of birth, member mailing address, and member telephone number. Customer service would then fax the enrollment information to StopSmoking operations. The second option for enrollment is to distribute postage paid/self addressed enrollment cards that the member fills out and returns to market. Third option: member self refers and calls directly into a dedicated 800 line
11	Determine staff/operations needs	Identify corporate program manager responsible for product delivery, promotion, market contact, provider services contact, counsellors, enrollment specialist, etc
12	Develop budget	Program delivery costs, promotion, Rx (NRT) benefit, staff recruitment and training, % of members who smoke/participation rates, etc
13	Identify internal training/communication needs	Customer services, providers services, sales/marketing, PMG/IPA's, medical directors, QI, etc
14	Establish time line/milestones for implementation of the StopSmoking program	Based on regulatory filings, time line on presenting StopSmoking program to medical groups, coordinate with member publications advertisement, etc
15	Identify medical groups to pilot program delivery and support	Select and prioritise medical groups to support pilot
16	Promote StopSmoking program in member and provider publications	Work with PHS corporate communications, frequency and topic focus
17	Develop and print collateral marketing materials for employers, health fairs, provider offices, sales/marketing, etc	Determine what quantity and items required for program promotional materials (brochures, overviews, Rx pads, chart stickers, poster, etc)
18	Identify information services corporate and market contacts	Support for member validation, database maintenance, program reporting