Winter 2016/2017

The annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey asks consumers and patients to report on and evaluate their experiences with health care. The results of this survey help pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in patients’ experiences with practice sites and individual physicians.

Included in the survey are the following questions related to medical assistance with smoking and tobacco use cessation:

• Does the member currently smoke or use tobacco?
• Has the member been advised to quit by a provider?
• Did a provider discuss and recommend medication to help quit tobacco use?
• Did a provider discuss or provide methods and strategies to quit?

The findings from the 2016 CAHPS Survey indicate that there has been progress in this area among the RIte Care and Rhody Health Partners adult populations. Providers are doing a great job asking patients about tobacco use and providing them with information regarding tobacco cessation. Providers are also sharing resources on where patients can receive assistance with quitting tobacco use.

The Medicaid Expansion population, however, continues to be in need of increased efforts in this area. Many in this population have gone a long time without health insurance, and are very much in need of assistance with tobacco cessation information and services.

Ongoing provider efforts in the area of tobacco cessation, such as those sponsored by Care Transformation Collaborative Rhode Island (CTC-RI) are appreciated as well as providers’ continued use of Neighborhood’s Quit for Life tobacco cessation program. If you would like to refer your Neighborhood patients to the Quit for Life program you can have them call Neighborhood Member Services at 1-800-459-6019.