<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You may be aware that in 2009, the Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 734, which requires all Oregon-based health insurance plans to provide a minimum of $500 in tobacco cessation coverage. As a result of this legislation, HPCDP contracted
with the OHSU Smoking Cessation Center to convene a group of health plans and tobacco control advocates (the Helping Benefit Oregon Smokers collaborative) to develop a set of recommended tobacco cessation benefits. The Oregon
<a href="http://www.smokefreeoregon.com/policy/helping-benefit-oregon-smokers/recommendations">
recommendations</a> were then shared with health plans and employer groups.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The OHSU Smoking Cessation Center recently conducted some follow up research to determine the impact of the Helping Benefit Oregon Smokers collaborative and the Oregon recommendations on health plan and employer cessation benefits. The
Helping Benefit Oregon Smokers case study report can now be found on our website at
<a href="http://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/TobaccoPrevention/Pages/pubs.aspx#specialproject">
http://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/TobaccoPrevention/Pages/pubs.aspx#specialproject</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information and resources related to the Helping Benefit Oregon Smokers collaborative and the recommended cessation benefit, visit
<a href="http://www.smokefreeoregon.com/policy/helping-benefit-oregon-smokers">http://www.smokefreeoregon.com/policy/helping-benefit-oregon-smokers</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Enjoy,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cara<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cara Biddlecom Railsback, MPH<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Health Systems Coordinator<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oregon Public Health Division<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon St., Suite 730<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, OR 97232<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Office: (971) 673-2284<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: (971) 673-0994<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:cara.b.railsback@state.or.us">cara.b.railsback@state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>