Funding
APTNA receives funding from the Virginia Department of Health Tobacco Use Control Project to implement activities that will help meet their annual CDC action plan goals and objectives relating to promoting tobacco use cessation. These are summarized below:
Annual Action Plan Objectives - Cessation
1. Increase insurance coverage of evidence-based treatment for tobacco dependence (counseling and/or medication).
a) Disseminate information resources to 50 employers regarding benefits of coverage and reimbursement and assist five major employers (100 or more employees) in decision to include effective cessation counseling and/or medication in their healthcare coverage.
b) Develop partnerships with four health insurance providers, initiate discussions about coverage of evidence-based cessation treatments and facilitate implementation by two major health insurance providers of that coverage.
c) Develop and disseminate an information resource to members of Commonwealth health insurance board regarding the benefits of coverage and reimbursement for effective cessation treatment and negotiate for establishment of a requirement that health insurance plans cover effective cessation counseling and/or medication.
2. Increase smoking cessation attempts by adult smokers and reduce the number who smoke by 1-2 percent.
a) Compile a resource guide containing benefits of evidence-based tobacco use cessation interventions and services and best practice resources.
b) Disseminate information to educate 20 healthcare providers about instituting policies to provide tobacco cessation services within their practices and influence two healthcare systems to integrate evidence-based cessation treatment guidelines into routine practice.
c) Develop and enhance partnership with acute care hospitals to influence policy change regarding tobacco cessation and assist in incorporation of evidence-based tobacco use cessation interventions and services into policies of at least 30 healthcare provider practices.
d) Initiate discussions with Community Health Centers about integrating evidence-based cessation treatment guidelines into routine practice.
3. Increase smoking cessation during pregnancy
Develop and enhance partnership with WIC clinics to influence policy change regarding tobacco cessation.
APTNA has also partnered with VDH-TUCP to assist in accomplishing the goals and objectives of their CDC supplemental contract relating to establishment of a statewide quitline:
Supplemental Plan Objectives - Quitline
1. Complete preparations for initiation of quitline
a) Develop and submit proposal.
b) Solicit vendor proposals and select quitline service provider.
c) Negotiate contract with vendor.
2. Implement quitline services
a) Provide local resource and health plan databases to vendor.
b) Promote quitline, focusing on target populations.
c) Develop healthcare provider fax referral mechanism.