• Audrey Darville, Lovoria Williams, Jean Edward, Karen Butler, Kathy Rademacher, Brittney Gray, Clair M Tischner, Hannah Keeler, and Ellen J Hahn.
• From the College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, and Radford University, Radford, Virginia.
• South. Med. J. 2022 Aug 1; 115 (8): 603-610.

ObjectiveMedicaid recipients are vulnerable to increased morbidity and mortality secondary to high tobacco use prevalence and barriers to accessing tobacco treatment. The purpose of the pilot study was to explore managed care administrators' perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to tobacco treatment for Medicaid recipients.MethodsFocus groups with key informants (n = 14) from managed care organizations were conducted in fall 2018. Participants included case, integrated care, quality and field care managers, and individuals working in provider and network relations.ResultsFacilitators to tobacco treatment were universal quality reporting requirements, access to medications, and the role of case management in identifying and engaging tobacco users in treatment. Barriers included bias regarding smokers' ability to quit, communication challenges, and competing priorities.ConclusionsThe analysis provided data to support the development of a policy brief and recommendations to the Department for Medicaid Services for enhancing tobacco dependence treatment.

8 keywords...

hide…