The formation of public-private partnerships can be a viable option for ensuring quitline sustainability and continued access to evidence-based services for all tobacco users wanting to quit. The NAQC public-private partnership initiative, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strives to provide states with the knowledge, resources, and technical assistance to successfully establish cost-sharing partnerships.

The initiative launched December 2011, providing all NAQC members with access to information through a 3-part "Building Public-Private Partnerships” webinar series and resources and tools available on the NAQC website. Currently, eleven states receive additional support through participating in quarterly discussion groups and one-one-one technical assistance. Those states include: Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, and Utah. To learn more about each of the state’s efforts click here.

Getting Started

Forming public-private partnerships can be challenging and time consuming, however states have demonstrated success by taking the time to plan, educate and engage key stakeholders, including both private and private insurers in the process. The following describes the process in 3 phases, however, depending on the state’s environment the phases ma y not necessarily be executed linearly or independently of each other. However, Phase I must be completed before proceeding to Phase II or III.

Phase I: Cessation Coverage Assessment

Conducting an assessment of your state’s cessation coverage is critical to developing an action plan or strategies to engage partners in cost-sharing. Some of the key components of an assessment include a state’s tobacco prevalence rate, insurance distribution (the percentage of publically and privately insured (self- and fully-insured)), cessation coverage by individual health plans, quitline utilization by largest health plans, the state’s political environment and key stakeholders .

To learn how to assess your state’s health plan performance and its readiness in developing public-private partnerships, the webinar "PHASE I: ASSESSING AND BUILDING SUPPORT FOR HEALTH PLAN COVERAGE FOR QUITLINE SERVICES” describes primary assessment tools and their application, Content includes: Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS), the eValue8 Request for Information, Quitline data, interviewing health plans and assessing your state’s support at the administrative level. Emphasis is also placed on identifying key stakeholders for leveraging support for health plan engagement.

Additionally, the State Cessation Coverage Assessment worksheet, a tool to assist states in the completing a comprehensive state assessment, outlines the key components and resources for accessing the information.

Phase I Resources - click here.

Phase II: Developing and Implementing a Plan

Once a state has completed the cessation coverage assessment and identified key stakeholders (Phase I), the next step is to convene stakeholders to collaboratively develop a state action plan. Information gathered through the state’s assessment is shared to build a common understanding and solid knowledge base among all stakeholders. Through a facilitated process, stakeholders collaboratively identify priorities, develop an action plan and strategies to engage public and private insurers in cost-sharing partnerships.

To learn more about the process, the webinar "PHASE II: DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING PLAN TO EXPAND HEALTH PLAN TO EXPEND HEALTH PLAN COVERAGE OF QUITLINE SERVICES” provides an overview of building a partnerships based on shared goals, how to utilize assessment findings in developing a strategic action plan and prioritizing strategies the promote support form all stakeholders that can generate "early wins.”

Phase II Resources - click here.

Phase III: Building Support for Tobacco Cessation Coverage Through Promotion, Education, and Return-on-Investment (ROI)

The promotion of evidence-based services, educating employers and insurers on the availability of quit line services and demonstrating the cost-benefit of providing cessation services can be instrumental in engaging both public and private insurers. During this phase of the process, attention must be given to educating health plans, large employers, purchasing groups and brokers on the importance of evidence-based cessation services and demonstrating the ROI.

To learn more about building support for tobacco cessation coverage, the webinar "PHASE III: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR TOBACCO CESSATION COVERAGE THROUGH PROMOTION, EDUCATION, AND RETURN-ON-INVESTMENT(ROI)" identified messaging and strategies to combat health plan and employer opposition to providing cessation coverage. Additional materials and resources for educating health plans and employers are provided below.

Phase III Resources - click here.

Upcoming Events

Learning opportunities to build your capacity in establishing public-private partnerships to costs-share quitline services will be posted here as they become available.