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Quitting smoking is difficult.  People who use a support program are more likely to succeed.

New research shows that people who are asked about their smoking by two or more kinds of health professionals are more likely to quit.  Read the research report published in the January 2008 issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine. (See top link at left.)

Now there are several innovative programs to make it easy for doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists to refer their patients to quitline support.

Call it Quits — Minnesota Tobacco Quitlines

Call it Quits is a collaboration among seven of Minnesota’s major health plans (UCare Minnesota, HealthPartners, Metropolitan Health Plan, Medica, PreferredOne, MMSI, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota) and ClearWay Minnesota (the state-funded quitline for uninsured and underinsured).  The goal of this collaboration is to make it easier for you to connect your patients to appropriate tobacco quitline services.

Minnesota Clinic Fax Referral Program

This program, supported by Call it Quits, enables health care providers to use a single form and fax number to refer patients who use tobacco to quitline support. ALL Minnesota residents — whether or not covered by a health plan — have access to free support to quit.

Clinics can start using the Minnesota Clinic Fax Referral Program as of October 1st, 2007.  That's the same day that the statewide Freedom to Breathe Act takes effect.  Register now and order free supporting materials.  Simply download the three "related items" at left to get started.

Pharmacy support: Smoking Cessation Referrals in Pharmacies (SCRIPS)

Pharmacies have been an overlooked resource in encouraging adults to use effective stop-smoking resources. Many people visit their pharmacy much more often than they do their physician.

The Smoking Cessation Referrals In Pharmacies (SCRIPS) Program is designed to encourage Blue Cross members to use phone counseling as well as medication. The program encourages Minnesota pharmacies to connect Blue Cross members who fill a prescription for tobacco treatment medications to the BluePrint for Health® stop-smoking program.

Clinic support: programs and resources to help implement the 5As

Ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange: The 5As of tobacco treatment recommended by clinical practice guidelines are becoming familiar to physicians and other clinic staff. Blue Cross’ goal is to help physicians and clinics implement effective systems so that the 5As become an integral part of their operations. 

No-cost cessation resource materials available: the “quit card”

Since its introduction in 2002, more than 1 million “Quit Cards” have been distributed to physicians, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists as well as residents. The newly updated card is blue instead of purple. It can be ordered in bulk at no cost.

These cards provide the toll-free numbers for quit-smoking programs sponsored by Minnesota’s major health plans. The card also includes the number for QUITPLAN®, the resource for uninsured and underinsured Minnesota residents.