Assisting and motivating patients to change their smoking behavior can be a challenge to health care providers. With the right tools, smoking cessation progress can be made, monitored and targeted, both with a patient and the community at large. Patagonia Health’s EHR has various tools that can be applied at the patient level and for community planning.
Facts:
- Tobacco dependence is a leading cause of avoidable death
- Nearly 1 in 5 deaths are caused by cigarette smoking
- Smoking increase the risk of heart disease, COPD, Asthma, Lung cancer
- 70% of all smokers want to quit
- Quit attempts are more successful with clinical assistance and guidance
- EHRs can help clinicians with Tobacco Cessation
Tools for Smoking Cessation
Templates for data reporting
With the Electronic Health Records, all data that is captured in drop downs, check boxes, and radio button fields can be used for reporting. Actionable reports can then be exported into Excel for follow up on Quit Date.
Capture tobacco cessation/counseling data within workflow
- Data capture within the clinical workflow can improve the treatment, education, and goal setting processes.
- The 5 A’s assessment form can be accessed directly form the patient visit note screen
- Capture smoking activity status as social history on the same screen as other medical history
- Set up treatment plans and goals and track progress using graphs
Data exchange between EHR and Quitline
- Patagonia Health EHR can send referrals to the Quitline electronically
- Quitline can send progress back to the EHR
- Clinicians can track the status of referral appointments
- Data exchange between the EHR and Quitline is done via CCD and HL7 data exchange protocol
- Data exchange standards created by North American Quitline
Tools for patient engagement and education
Keep the patient engaged via Communicator App (optional) with follow up emails and text messaging. Communicate directly via the patient portal, where patients and providers can communicate via secure messaging.
Tools for community outreach & education
GIS Health Mapping App
Use of the integrated GIS Health Mapping App (optional) can help improve the population health, and assist the agency in planning community outreach and education programs where it will have the biggest impact.
Data Reporting and Analysis
Data analysis tools can aid in planning resources and funding across programs
Billing Tips
Check insurance eligibility directly from the EHR and take advantage of billing for maximum results
Reimbursable codes – samples
| Insurance | Service Codes | Sample Reimbursement Rates |
| Private | 99406 (Cessation Counseling for 3-10 mins) 99407 (Cessation Counseling for greater than 10 mins) |
$15.86 $31.50 |
| Medicaid | 99406 (Cessation Counseling for 3-10 mins) 99407 (Cessation Counseling for greater than 10 mins) |
$8.93 $22.36 |
| Medicare | 99406 (Cessation Counseling for 3-10 mins) 99407 (Cessation Counseling for greater than 10 mins) |
$22.32 $17.62 |
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
American Lung Association
Smoking Rates and Tobacco Cessation Coverage in Medicaid Expansion
Smokefree.gov Resource