Impact of co-payments on use of smoking-cessation services in an HMO

The Foundation's Tobacco Policy Research and Evaluation Program was designed to provide support for research and evaluation projects that will produce policy relevant information about ways to reduce tobacco use in the U.S., especially among children and youth.The purpose of this research project is to assess the impact of different cost-sharing structures on the utilization and cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation services in a health maintenance organization (HMO). This randomized control trial will be conducted at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC). GHC is the largest consumer-owned HMO in the United States, providing health care to about 380,000 residents of western Washington State. Smoking cessation services are divided into two categories: behavioral programs and nicotine replacement. The specific research questions to be addressed are: (1) what proportion of smokers will use a tobacco service benefit under four cost-sharing alternatives; (2) do the characteristics of smokers who use tobacco services vary as a function of the benefit; (3) does patient satisfaction with the tobacco service vary as a function of the benefit; (4) does the quit rate vary among the benefit structures; and (5) does the cost per quit (cost-effectiveness) vary among the benefit structure?

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $169,737.00

Awarded on: 8/27/1993

Time frame: 9/1/1993 - 3/31/1996

Grant Number: 22927