Effect of Gaining Insurance Coverage on Smoking Cessation in Community Health Centers: A Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Community health center (CHC) patients have high rates of smoking. Insurance coverage for smoking cessation assistance, such as that mandated by the Affordable Care Act, may aid in smoking cessation in this vulnerable population.

Objective

We aimed to determine if uninsured CHC patients who gain Medicaid coverage experience greater primary care utilization, receive more cessation medication orders, and achieve higher quit rates, compared to continuously uninsured smokers.

Design

Longitudinal observational cohort study using electronic health record data from a network of Oregon CHCs linked to Oregon Medicaid enrollment data.

Patients

Cohort of patients who smoke and who gained Medicaid coverage in 2008-2011 after ≥ 6 months of being uninsured and wit

SUBMITTER: Bailey SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5023615 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature