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Increasing Tobacco Use Cessation: Reducing Out-of-Pocket Costs for Evidence–based Tobacco Cessation Treatments

Reducing tobacco users' out-of-pocket costs involves policy or program changes that make evidence-based treatments, including medication, counseling or both, more affordable. To achieve this, new benefits may be provided, or changes may be made to the level of benefits offered that reduce costs or co-payments. Policy and program changes may be communicated to tobacco users and health care providers to increase awareness, interest in quitting, and use of evidence-based treatments.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends policies and programs to reduce tobacco users' out-of-pocket costs for evidence-based cessation treatments based on strong evidence of effectiveness in increasing the number of tobacco users who quit.

Evidence was considered strong based on findings from clinic-based trials and population-based policy evaluations of reduced out-of-pocket costs for both cessation counseling and medications. Clear communication of benefit changes both to tobacco users and healthcare providers increases use and impact of these interventions.

Task Force Finding and Rationale Statement

The Task Force recommendation was made in April 2012. It is based on evidence from a Community Guide systematic review published in 2001 (search period 1980-May 2000) combined with more recent evidence (search period January 2000-January 2012). The Task Force now recommends this intervention based on strong evidence of effectiveness; they previously recommended this intervention based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness.

This review was conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to tobacco use.

Read a summary of findings from the previous review or visit the Tobacco Use section of our publications page to access the complete articles. You may also subscribe to be notified as new materials on this topic become available.

Publications

The findings and results of this systematic review have not been published. Read other Community Guide publications about Tobacco Use in our library, including articles from the previous review.



Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.

Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Increasing tobacco use cessation: reducing out-of-pocket costs for evidence–based tobacco cessation treatments (ROPC). www.thecommunityguide.org/tobacco/cessation/outofpocketcosts.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: April 2012