Healthcare Providers

Why Screen Your Patients

Screening every patient for tobacco use and advising them to quit is key to saving lives. Research shows that people who use commercial tobacco products are more likely to try quitting if their doctor brings up the topic and provides medication and support — and they are even more likely to be successful if you refer them to the SC Tobacco Quitline. 

We offer multiple counseling modalities, regardless of insurance status, and all services are free for you and your patients. Services include:

• One-on-one telephone counseling with a trained professional
• A customized quit plan
• Help setting a quit date
• Print or electronic materials
• Text support to manage cravings
• Email tips and reminders
• Free quit medications for most participants

Patients have the option of calling to enroll, enrolling online or via text. Enrollment for one-on-one coaching can be done over the phone or they can choose a time to enroll online if they wish to try that route. Better still, providers can refer their patients and let the SC Tobacco Quitline do the proactive contact with their patients.

Online enrollment options are a great way for patients to customize their own program with a personal profile and dashboard to manage their quit journey. The SC Tobacco Quitline offers your patients free quit support along with free quit medications that provide adjunctive treatment to the primary care they receive. SC Healthy Connections Medicaid patients can receive the full range of SC Tobacco Quitline services, including free OTC quit medications, without prior authorization or co-pay.

Ready to refer patients? Providers can refer their patients in three easy ways: fax, online or electronic referral.

Talking About Tobacco Use

Conversations about tobacco use can be tough for both patients and healthcare providers. Let your patients know that your office or clinic is a judgment-free zone and a safe space for them to be open and honest about their health behaviors. If your patient doesn't seem ready to quit or has tried unsuccessfully in the past and needs encouragement, refer to this CDC guide for suggested scripts to help you discuss this important step toward better health and longevity.

2As + R

2As+R is an evidence-based brief tobacco intervention that any healthcare provider can use. 2As+R basics include:

ASK your patients about tobacco use at every visit.

ADVISE tobacco users to quit.

REFER them to the SC Tobacco Quitline for free support.

Document actions in EHR.

Get the 2As+R Full Provider Guide

Online Training

Free online training provides detailed information on how to effectively implement the 2As+R intervention and start talking about tobacco with your patients. This training also provides Continuing Medical Education (CME), Continuing Education (CE), or Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credits.

Start Your Training

Quit Medications

FDA-approved quit medications (nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine oral inhaler, and non-nicotine bupropion and varenicline) can greatly impact your patient's success, especially when combined with counseling support from the SC Tobacco Quitline. 

Quit medications are safe, effective, and non-prescription products are available for free through the SC Tobacco Quitline. When your patient enrolls for support services with the SC Tobacco Quitline, they will connect with a coach who will help them determine the non-prescription quit medication products that are appropriate for them (like gum, patch, or lozenge). The SC Tobacco Quitline provides services regardless of insurance status or coverage. That means that the majority of your patients will be eligible to receive some level of free, non-prescription quit medication support unless contraindicated by you. 

This means that the majority of your non-pregnant or breastfeeding adult patients will be eligible to receive some level of free, non-prescription quit medication support. In cases of a recent medical event (heart attack, stroke) or other contraindications, the SC Tobacco Quitline will request a medical waiver from the participant’s healthcare provider.

More About Quit Medications

Full benefit SC Healthy Connections Medicaid members can receive all quit medications (prescription and non-prescription) without copay from their Medicaid provider. More importantly, Medicaid providers do not have to get prior authorization before prescribing any of the 7 FDA-approved products. and these barrier-free benefits apply regardless of which Medicaid MCO health plan is used. The SC Tobacco Quitline can get Medicaid patients started with a free 2-week starter kit of non-prescription quit medications, (patch, gum, or lozenge), if appropriate. For continued use of quit medications, Medicaid members will be referred back to their Medicaid healthcare provider.

New Pharmacologic Treatment Guidelines

Recommended protocols on initiating pharmacologic treatment of tobacco dependence from the American Thoracic Society can greatly increase your patients' chances of quitting successfully. Refer to the 2020 treatment guidelines for more information.

Coding & Billing

ICD-10 diagnostic codes for Nicotine Dependence can be found in Million Hearts Tobacco Cessation Change Package from the US Department of Health and Human Services. Please note that the 2As+R Brief Tobacco Intervention is an abbreviated adaptation of the 5As protocol detailed in this document. ICD-10 codes can be found in Appendix A. CPT codes for tobacco cessation counseling for SC Healthy Connections (Medicaid) can be found on the SC Healthy Connections Medicaid site.