Tobacco Information For Healthcare Professsionals
Healthcare clinicians and specialists can help patients quit smoking through proven and effective treatments for nicotine addiction, including medications and smoking cessation counseling. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends applying the “5 As” to screen for tobacco and nicotine use and to refer patients to evidence-based addiction treatment. This powerful and effective tool can take about seven minutes.
Most commercial health plans and Medicaid in Rhode Island offer benefits for tobacco addiction treatment and services, such as outpatient counseling, nicotine replacement therapy products, or prescribed medications.
QuitWorks-RI offers free tobacco cessation tools and resources to healthcare professionals and connects their patients to free nicotine addiction treatment services. People who use tobacco and nicotine products can receive free counseling from certified tobacco treatment specialists, online tools, and text-based resources. The referring healthcare professional will receive follow-up reports that can be entered into the patient's electronic medical record to track quit success or indicate if other follow-ups may be needed. Medically eligible patients (ages 18+) may also receive a free supply of nicotine replacement therapy mailed to their homes (up to six weeks’ supply, while supplies last).
What you should do
- Screen all patients for tobacco use using the "5 As" model and refer to evidence-based nicotine addiction treatment services.
- Assist patients with confirming benefits coverage. Many insurances will cover nicotine replacement therapy costs without a prescription.
- Use QuitWorks-RI to refer any interested patient to free and customized support services to help them quit tobacco and nicotine.
- For patients who decline referral, tell them that help is available at QuitNowRI whenever they are interested in quitting tobacco and nicotine. Patients can visit QuitNowRI.com, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or text START to 300500 to learn more.
- Visit the Order Publications Page to order materials that your practice can use to educate patients about tobacco use treatment and cessation.
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