Health agency to revamp anti-smoking hotline

State health officials said Wednesday that they will revamp the state's smoking cessation hotline to divert some callers to services covered by their insurance plans.

At a meeting of the Legislative Council's Review Subcommittee, Health Department Director Nate Smith said the changes will address concerns from some lawmakers that the state is paying for services that insurance companies or the state's Medicaid program could be paying for.

The state's contract with Denver-based National Jewish Hospital, which operates the hotline, doesn't provide the flexibility to satisfy those concerns, Smith said.

"We can stand up a whole package of cessation services that give people a single place to call but connect them with services they have already paid for," Smith said. "Or for those who have nothing, we can still get them local resources, so we don't have to go out of state for that."

He said he wants to extend the contract with National Jewish Hospital for six months while the department works on the changes.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, the state spent $1.2 million under the contract. The money comes from the state's share of a 1998 settlement with tobacco companies.

Of the 10,420 people who called the hotline in fiscal 2017, 8,273 received phone counseling and 2,350 quit smoking, according to the department.

About a fourth of callers are covered by Medicaid and another fourth have private insurance, Smith said.

According to the hotline website, callers can speak with a counselor up to five times and receive free medications, such as nicotine gum or patches, "while supplies last."

The hotline, which can be reached at (800) 784-8669, does not bill insurance plans, according to the site.

Rep. Frances Cavenaugh, R-Walnut Ridge, said she wants to know whether the hotline saves the state money on health care costs.

She also questioned whether the money spent on the service should be put in a fund to support the state's Medicaid program, where it could "help more Arkansans" with health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Smith said it's cheaper to help people to quit than to treat health problems linked to smoking.

With no opposition, the subcommittee approved the extension in a voice vote.

Metro on 05/18/2018

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