Medicaid-Insured Client Characteristics and Quit Outcomes at the Arizona Smokers ’ Helpline

AbstractMedicaid-insured individuals who smoke experience disparities in quitting and are a priority population for assistance. This retrospective cohort study of Arizona Smokers ’ Helpline clients (Jan 2014–Mar 2019) examined the association between insurance status, treatment, and smoking cessation. When compared to clients with non-Medicaid insurance or no insurance, clients with Medicaid (26%) were more likely to be female, referred directly to the ASHLine by a healt hcare or community partner, smoke in the home, and report having a mental health condition. They also were less likely to utilize cessation medication and reported receiving less social support to quit. Controlling for these and other theoretically relevant variables, insurance status was stratified (Medicaid, non-Medicaid, and uninsured), and quit outcomes were compared by level of treatment (4 treatment groups: more and less than 3 coaching sessions and cessation medication use yes/no). Compared to clients who received 3+ coaching sessions, those who had less than 3 coaching sessions had sig nificantly lower adjusted odds of quitting. Results were similar regardless of cessation medication use or insurance status. There is no indication that treatment effects differ by insurance status. While insurance status appears to proxy for other important factors like low social and economic stat us and higher comorbidity prevalence, in a quitline setting, quitting is associated with additional, high-quality coac...
Source: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research