Please join us on Tuesday, November 7th from 10 to 11:30 AM to learn about how partners can work together to promote tobacco cessation treatment.

Topics:

• Community-based partnerships
• Assessing vaping in a health system
• Medi-Cal Managed Care plan partnerships for population health. 

This webinar is designed for those working in health systems, public health departments or Medi-Cal managed health plans.

QIP Updates

The Quality Incentive Pool (QIP) Program manual for Program Year 7 (PY7- Jan. 2024-Dec. 2024) is expected to come out mid-December 2023. We anticipate that e-cigarettes/vapes will be included in the updated QIP tobacco measure and that the QIP tobacco measure will be prioritized again for mandated reporting.

(NEW) - Uniform Data System (UDS) updated their 2023 Tobacco Screening measure to include e-cigarette use. This change impacts centers like Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

Now is the time to update health system screening and counseling scripts/electronic medical record (EMR) screens to include language for vape use. It is a good time also to connect with Kick It California (KIC) which can also help people to quit vaping. 

CA Quits Public Hospital Systems Coordinator, Moreen Sharma: mmsharma@ucdavis.edu is available to provide technical assistance and resources.

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

The Great American Smokeout (GASO) held every third Thursday of November (11/16/2023), is an opportunity to support individuals who smoke or use other commercial tobacco products to quit. In addition, it's a reminder to celebrate those who quit. We encourage you to promote this day through your media channels. Click here to view a few promotional materials.

LUNG CANCER AWARENESS

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 80% of lung cancer is linked to smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products. Quitting smoking at any time can lower the risk of lung cancer and getting screened for lung cancer early increases the likelihood of adding more years to be around loved ones. Visit the American Lung Association for more information on lung cancer screening.

• A CA Quits webinar recording - California Tobacco Flavor Ban: Addressing Health Equity and How to Engage Priority Populations to Quit Tobacco. Click here to view the webinar recording and presentation slides. Visit our CA Quits resource page for additional materials, including our How Health Professionals Can Support Patients to Quit Flavored Tobacco Products.

• A 4-step "Strategy for Population Health & Equity" handout for health systems and plans to identify their patients or members who are tobacco users and examine the impact of proactive outreach on health equity.  



• Dr. Tong was awarded two new Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) grants. Read the news release for more information about the New California Tobacco Cessation Policy Research Center to be housed at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center and how UC Davis Health is advancing tobacco treatment for Medi-Cal members with LA Care Medi-Cal managed care plan.

• CA Quits policy brief on "Advancing Tobacco Treatment with Medi-Cal for Health Systems Change" highlights how over 100 health systems, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and public health partners have partnered to improve tobacco treatment. 

• Med-Cal Explained is an ongoing series on Medi-Cal for those new to the program and those who need a refresher. To see other publications in this series, visit www.chcf.org/MC-explained. Starting in January 2024, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans will operate in different counties. Click here to see those changes.

CA Quits | www.caquits.com.