Kentucky, South Dakota Contract National Jewish Health Quitline Services

Kentucky and South Dakota have contracted National Jewish Health to operate their state's tobacco-cessation services. Kentucky, which has one of the highest smoking rates in the country, has provided access for its residents to the National Jewish Health QuitLine, a telephonic tobacco-cessation program. Those in South Dakota will have access to QuitLogix, a Web-based tobacco-cessation program.

National Jewish Health operates quitlines for eight other states - Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, and Utah - as well as for numerous health plans and employers.

"Quitline has been an extremely effective smoking-cessation program that has improved health and reduce healthcare costs," said David Tinkelman, MD, Vice President of Health Initiatives. "We continue to add new customers as more and more states, health plans and employers learn this program provides an excellent return on investment."

The National Jewish quitline is a telephonic counseling program available to individuals who are ready to quit or just thinking about it. Each caller can choose to receive self-guided cessation information or to enroll in a five-telephone-counseling program delivered by highly trained coaches. The intensive one-on-one program offers quit plans customized for each participant, up to five proactive coaching sessions, unlimited telephonic support and the potential for free medications to help in the quitting process. Information and coaching are available in English and Spanish.

QuitLogix offers a comprehensive Web-based program with the latest information and research-based tools to help tobacco users through all stages of change. QuitLogix, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, provides access to tailored motivational messages, step-by-step guides to cutting down and quitting tobacco as well as online support from other quitters and quitting specialists.

Only three to five percent of people trying to quit tobacco on their own are successful, but more than 30 percent of callers reported being tobacco-free 12 months after enrolling in quitlines operated by National Jewish Health. The ten state quitlines serve a combined population of more than 37 million people.
Tobacco-users wanting to quit can call a national hotline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, and will be directed to their individual state quitlines.