• This is a Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) measure and a Healthcare Effectiveness and Data Information Set (HEDIS) measure. 
• The CAHPS survey looks at health care performance from the customer’s point of view.
• The rate, or achievement score, for this question represents respondents who answered 'sometimes', 'usually', or 'always'.
• The red dotted line on the graph above represents the national average for all Medicaid plans. It is there as a comparison to Vermont Medicaid's performance (blue line).

One component of this survey measure assesses the level of tobacco use and three components of this measure assess different facets of providing medical assistance with smoking and tobacco use cessation:

1. Percentage of survey respondents who indicate that they smoke cigarettes or use tobacco every day or some days.
2. Advising Smokers and Tobacco Users to Quit: Adults 18 years of age and older who are current smokers or tobacco users and who received cessation advice during the measurement year.
3. Discussing Cessation Medications: Adults 18 years of age and older who are current smokers or tobacco users and who discussed or were recommended cessation medications during the measurement year.
4. Discussing Cessation Strategies: Adults 18 years of age and older who are current smokers or tobacco users who discussed or were provided cessation methods or strategies during the measurement year.

Smoking and tobacco use are the largest causes of preventable disease and death in the United States and in Vermont. Tobacco use causes disease in nearly every organ in the body.  Quitting smoking and tobacco use saves lives, reduces cancer and heart disease risk, and improves overall health. Comprehensive cessation interventions that motivate and help users to quit tobacco use can be very effective.  Health care providers play an important and influential role in asking, advising and counseling tobacco users with quitting. Reimbursement codes are available to support providers in brief and intermediate counseling.

The percentage of adult Medicaid members who responded that they smoke cigarettes or use tobacco and received cessation advice from their health care provider decreased in 2021. Reported rates of being advised to quit by their provider have declined from 2015 (77%) to 71% in 2022. The decline could be due to the ongoing impact COVID-19 had on members being able to see their doctors while also reducing capacity among providers. The red dotted line on the graph above represents the national average for all Medicaid plans. It is there as a comparison to Vermont Medicaid's performance (blue line).

Last updated:  03/2023