Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking (MIQS) Project

Background

Medi-Cal members smoke at higher rates than the general population and are at high risk for developing smoking-related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking (MIQS) Project seeks to reverse these trends and motivate smoking cessation by offering a $20 gift card to members who call the California Smokers' Helpline at 1-800-NO-BUTTS and enroll in its free telephone-based support services. 

How the incentive works

Adult Medi-Cal members (18 and older) who smoke and want to quit are eligible. To receive the $20 gift card, the individual must be a current Medi-Cal members, have a Beneficiary Identification Card number, ask for the gift card, and complete the first counseling session.

Here's what you can do to help:

• Use the Ask Advise Refer cessation intervention:

1. ASK all Medi-Cal members if they smoke.

2. ADVISE them to quit smoking.

3. REFER members who smoke to the California Smokers' Helpline at 1-800-NO-BUTTS for free, effective, telephone-based cessation counseling in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese.

4. MOTIVATE members to call by telling them about the $20 gift card.  

• Distribute the member flyer (available on the "MIQS Tools for Patients" page, below) and include information in patient or client newsletters.
• Include information about MIQS in provider, staff, and partner organization newsletters

Download files below

MIQS Project General Fact Sheet: An overview of the MIQS Project, suitable for distribution to organizations and providers that serve Medi-Cal members

MIQS Frequently Asked Questions: Answers to frequently asked questions about the MIQS Project

Find more MIQS information here

MIQS Tools for Patients: Downloadable member flyer that describes the MIQS incentive, available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese

MIQS Tools for Provider Action: Downloadable materials for health care providers and social service organizations that serve Medi-Cal members; ideas for promoting the incentive

MIQS Data: Statewide and county-specific data on smoking prevalence and Helpline MIQS calls

MIQS Partners and Rationale: Organizations involved in MIQS; the evidence for incentives

If you have questions about the Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking Project, contact Deana Lidgett, MIQS Outreach Coordinator, at 916-552-9956 or Deana.Lidgett@cdph.ca.gov