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State of Pennsylvania:
“The Keystone State”
Total population: 12.3 million
Adult smoking prevalence: 24.6%1
Youth smoking prevalence: 27.6%2
Pregnant smoking prevalence: 15.6%3
Total funding for tobacco control in FY 2005:
$46.1 M4
Proportion for tobacco cessation: about 10%
for quitline and training programs; 70% of total goes to local
programs and some of that is used for cessation programs5
Cessation Services Profile
Quitline services: All tobacco users who
access the Pennsylvania Free Quitline are offered an initial
evaluation and up to five proactive counseling sessions. In
2004, the Quitline implemented their “Sad and Blue”
assessment to determine if a client making a quit attempt
is experiencing depression. If depression is not an issue,
the client receives three free counseling sessions. Clients
exhibiting depression receive 5 free counseling sessions.
As a result of on-going assessment by ACS and their development
of the assessment tool, this change was implemented.
Medicaid coverage & services: As of
2004, Pennsylvania’s Medicaid covers 70 units (15 minutes
of face-to-face sessions) per calendar year and prescription
medications, including the original prescription with 5 refills
per calendar year are covered.
Health plan coverage & services: Unknown
Self-insured coverage & services: Unknown
Key partners in tobacco cessation:
- American Cancer Society (national) – maintenance
of the Pennsylvania Free Quitline
- American Cancer Society (PA Division) – promotion
of the Pennsylvania Free Quitline and additional outreach
to healthcare providers in PA
- Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (AHEC) –
integration of tobacco cessation curricula in schools of
medicine, dentistry, nursing, and allied health. Also development
of tobacco cessation resources and trainings in the PHS
Guidelines for incumbent health professionals.
- Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics –
implementation of Clean Air for Healthy Children training
program in family practice, OB/GYN, and pediatric physician
offices.
- County Level Organizations:
- Primary contractors provide funding for community
based cessation programs
- Community-based coalitions such as the Coalition for
a Smoke-Free Valley partner with primary contractors
to expand cessation initiatives.
Primary leadership:
- Department of Health’s Division of Tobacco Prevention
and Control presently provide primary leadership on cessation
issues.
- State Cessation Planning Workgroup
- Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Advisory Committee
Status of cessation program: Pennsylvania
has developed a quitline, over 550 local cessation programs,
and Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation services has been
significantly increased. In addition, the department is enhancing
its ability to educate and train healthcare providers in various
disciplines on the PHS Guidelines.
The Division is exploring partnership opportunities with
private Pennsylvania insurers to provide cessation awareness
education to clients and promote cessation counseling and
pharmacotherapy coverage.
The Division has implemented a Diversity and Tobacco Related
Disparities Initiative to focus on the development of a strategic
plan to address tobacco-related disparities within the Commonwealth.
Using the resources of the Center for Minority Health, Primary
Contractors (county level community-based tobacco control
program lead agencies) and their service providers, the Governor’s
Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, the Governor’s
Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, the Division established
a 34 member diverse and inclusive strategic planning workgroup
representing organizations that serve communities of racial
and ethnic populations, low socioeconomic status, and lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
The Workgroup established special population-focused subgroups:
African-American, Latinos/Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islander,
Amish/Rural, and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
questionable). The strategic planning process is driven by
Healthy People 2010’s focus on disparities. The goal
of the strategic plan is to guide the efforts of individuals,
organizations and decision makers in Pennsylvania to collaboratively
eliminate tobacco-related disparities.
The Division is using CDC funding to enhance the Pennsylvania
Free Quitline services to Pennsylvania’s disparate populations.
Key successes:
- Sustained MSA funding since 2001
- Implementation of the PA Free Quitline in June 2002.
Key challenges:
- Integrating cessation services in Pennsylvania to form
a comprehensive model. Many services are available, but
as yet are not sufficiently “networked”.
- Establishing comprehensive coverage of tobacco cessation
services and pharmacotherapy by private healthcare insurers.
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1. Sustaining State Programs for Tobacco Control:
Data Highlights 2004, CDC
2. Sustaining State Programs for Tobacco Control: Data Highlights
2004, CDC (grades 9-12
3. CDC. Smoking During Pregnancy --- United States, 1990--2002.
MMWR 2004; 53(39);911-915.
Percentage of mothers who smoked during pregnancy by area:
2002
4. Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. FY2005 Rankings of State
Funding for Tobacco Prevention: www.tobaccofreekids.org
5. MSA, CDC, general fund
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