Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line Medicaid Incentive Evaluation

Previous research on providing incentives for healthy behaviors has shown that financial incentives can increase treatment participation and boost outcomes when they are tied to participation in evidence based treatments. However, most of this research has been done in laboratory settings and in relatively small clinical trials. This study is designed to test the hypotheses that incentives can increase both participation in smoking cessation treatment and resulting cessation rates, when they are offered to Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus (Medicaid) smokers as part of their health care. If successful, this treatment approach could be used more broadly to reduce the considerable financial and personal costs associated with smoking-related disease.

In this study, Medicaid-eligible smokers were recruited from primary care clinics and from callers to the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (WTQL) with randomization a Control condition and an Incentive condition. All participants were offered five cessation calls from the WTQL and participants were encouraged by WTQL coaches to obtain cessation medication from their primary care providers. All participants received payment for completing a baseline assessment ($40) and a 6-month smoking test ($40). Only Incentive condition participants received additional compensation for taking counseling calls ($30 per completed call) and for biochemically-verified abstinence at the 6-month visit ($40).

Inclusion criteria

• enrollment in Wisconsin Medicaid (BadgerCare Plus)
• resides in study area (one of 25 counties)
• 18 or older
• English or Spanish speaking
• has smoked daily (at least 5 cigarettes each day) over the last week
• willingness to attend visits at his/her PCC (primary care clinic) or go to a testing site at baseline and 6 months (2 times over a 6 month period), provide urine samples or participate in exhaled carbon monoxide testing, and complete follow-up phone calls from the WTQL
• willingness to inform the WTQL as to any change in address, phone number, clinic attended, or health plan.

Exclusion criteria

• not enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid (BadgerCare Plus)
• not reside in study area
• less than 18 years of age
• not English or Spanish speaking
• does not smoke daily (at least 5 cigarettes each day) over the last week
• not willing to attend visits at his/her PCC (primary care clinic) or alternative testing site at baseline and 6 months (2 times over a 6 month period), provide urine or exhaled carbon monoxide samples, and complete follow-up phone calls.
• not willing to inform the WTQL as to any change in address, phone number, clinic attended, or health plan.