March 2022
CA Quits Quarterly E-Newsletter
Your quarterly updates: Champion's Corner, TLC Corner and Education Corner along with resources, articles and events!
CHAMPION’S CORNER
Annual Champions’ Meeting 2022
SAVE-THE-DATE

CA Quits will host a virtual 2022 Tobacco-Free Champions' meeting on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 from 9-11 AM. Champions from public health departments, Medi-Cal managed care plans and various health systems will talk about how partners can work together to promote commercial tobacco cessation treatment. Strategies are anchored by health equity and focused on working across the: population-, provider- and patient-level.
 
This two-hour event is designed for: health systems, public health departments, and Medi-Cal managed health care plans. More details and registration to follow. Please mark your calendar today! Contact Moreen Sharma at mmsharma@ucdavis.edu if you have questions.
TLC CORNER
2022 Tobacco Learning Collaborative (TLC) Kick-off

CA Quits is excited to announce our 2022 TLC kicks off on April 25th. The TLC provides an opportunity for health systems and partners to learn about promising practices for commercial tobacco treatment integration. It provides a space for shared learning and collaboration among the participants.

There are four key topics covered throughout the year:
  1. CLINIC: Workflow, Policy, and Connections to Kick It California
  2. PROVIDER: Cessation Treatment
  3. PATIENT: Effective Messaging and Strategies
  4. POPULATION: Utilizing Data to Address Care Gaps and Health Equity
 
We end with our CAPSTONE Health System’s and Partner’s Intervention Presentations to share everyone’s progress over the year. 
For more information about the TLCs, contact Shannon Haggitt: srhaggitt@ucdavis.edu or Moreen Sharma: mmsharma@ucdavis.edu.
 
Click HERE to see the list of past TLC participants.
EDUCATION CORNER
"Medi-Cal Rx" is the new centralized pharmacy benefit
manager program.

Medi-Cal covers all seven pharmacotherapy cessation treatments. Prescriptions are required for over-the-counter medications.

The following five smoking deterrents are covered without prior authorization:
  • Bupropion
  • Varenicline
  • Nicotine patch
  • Nicotine gum, and
  • Nicotine lozenges
 
Two smoking deterrents are covered and require prior authorization*:
  • Nicotine nasal spray
  • Nicotine inhaler 

*All drugs not listed on the CDL require prior authorization from Medi-Cal. The nasal spray and inhaler need prior authorization as these are not on the CDL.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
New Kick It California (KIC) Tip Sheets

The How to Submit Web-based Referrals to KIC and What to Expect After Being Referred to KIC are free and available for easy download! These tools can be helpful to share with team members who are actively referring individuals through the KIC website or to learn more about what happens after the referral is submitted.  
ARTICLES/WEBINARS





  • Cancer Programs: Just Ask  (Recording) The Commission on Cancer launched a 2022 quality improvement project for all its accredited cancer programs to "Just ASK" about smoking.