Making a Difference in Members’ Health
Fall 2020
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Healthcare providers play an important role in supporting tobacco users and their efforts to quit. The annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey asks members to report on their experiences with their health plan and with health care services in different settings. The CAHPS survey covers a variety of topics such as the communication of health providers and ease of accessing health care services. Neighborhood uses the survey results to improve the quality of health care services our members experience.
Included in the CAHPS survey are the following questions related to Medical Assistance with Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation:
- Does the member currently smoke cigarettes or use tobacco?
- How often was the member advised to quit smoking or using tobacco by a doctor or other health provider?
- Did a doctor or other health provider discuss or recommend medication to help quit tobacco use?
- Did a doctor or other health provider discuss or provide methods and strategies other than medication to assist you with quitting?
Overall results from the 2020 CAHPS survey show the following:
| CAHPS Survey Question | 2019 Survey Results | 2020 Survey Results |
| Members who use tobacco were advised to quit | 80.18% | 85.99% |
| Providers discussed cessation medications | 61.09% | 68.91% |
| Providers discussed strategies to quit | 53.78% | 61.15% |
Neighborhood providers are doing a great job asking patients about tobacco use, advising them to quit, and providing them with information regarding tobacco cessation and resources where they can receive assistance with quitting tobacco use. Continuing these efforts will improve the health and wellness of our members and are very much appreciated by Neighborhood.
Resources
Neighborhood’s Quit for Life Tobacco Cessation Program is available to all Neighborhood members who use tobacco. If you would like to refer your Neighborhood patients to the Quit for Life program, please have them call Neighborhood’s Member Services at 1-(800)-459-6019.
CAHPS® is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)