title: Does a health plan effort to increase smokers' awareness of cessation medication coverage increase utilization and cessation?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether a mailing describing new coverage for smoking cessation medications increases benefit knowledge, utilization, and quitting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized controlled trial assigned participants to benefit communication via (1) standard contract changes or (2) enhanced communication with direct-to-member postcards. A sample of 1930 self-identified smokers from two Minnesota health plans took surveys before and 1 year after the benefit's introduction. The follow-up response rate was 80%. A multilevel logistic estimator tested for differences in benefit knowledge and smoking behavior from baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More enhanced than standard communication respondents knew about the benefit (39.0% vs. 22.2%, p < .0001) at follow-up. Groups did not differ on bupropion utilization (24.6% vs. 23.1%, p = .92); nicotine replacement therapy utilization (26.9% vs. 25.9%, p = .26), or cessation (12.8% vs. 15.6%, p = .32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although limited by the low intervention intensity and potential social desirability bias, information about new coverage alone does not appear to increase quitting behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0560, USA.
authors.forename: Nina L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Alesci
authors.forename: Raymond G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Gestur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Leif I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Solberg
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magnan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054598:Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016642:Bupropion / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003142:Communication; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011177:Postal Service; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D016642:Bupropion