“THE” Policy Group

1. “THE” Policy Group Matt Barry (unofficial spokesperson … for the “herd”)

2. Purpose of “THE” Policy Group Create a national “Policy Change Response Network” that would work with tobacco control stakeholders in the public (government) and private (corporations, health plans, insurers) sectors to help them prepare for an increase in demand for cessation and implement the needed mechanisms to help more tobacco users quit.

3. Action “Leaps and Bounds”* • Create a policy change infrastructure – how we function • Determine structure model -- advisory • Discuss and prioritize ways objectives can be operationalized. Address and resolve fundamental issues including time commitment, logistics, coordinating individuals/organizations, how communicate with each other, etc. * - Action “steps” didn’t seem ambitious enough.

4. Action “Leaps and Bounds” Good ideas … • Create a repository of case studies – both successful and unsuccessful – and key contacts • Identify/Describe case studies. Create a template. Question: In what form will the case studies be available? • Identify key case study elements that create the “perfect storm” for policy change. • Determine where case studies will be held/housed and how they will be distributed. … and not so good.

5. Action “Leaps and Bounds” • Communicate the mechanisms to maximize the impact of policy changes. • Develop communications plan; customize to various audiences. • Explore options for partnering with organization or developing website for disseminating policy change materials. Option: Partner with TFK to have materials housed on their website.

6. Action “Leaps and Bounds” • Provide technical support to stakeholders. • Identify resources to make available to stakeholders. • Create inventory of expertise. Option: Have individual organizations take on this task. • Create a group of stakeholders for peer to peer exchange of case studies/ideas/experiences. • Identify most effective means of communicating/maximizing impact of policy change.

7. Action “Leaps and Bounds” • Create an environmental scan and forecasting mechanism • Poll interested members every six months to give top 10 targets for activity of interest.

8. Key Opportunities for Innovation/Action • Opportunities: • More state/local smokefree policies. • More state/local tax increases on all tobacco products (e.g., cigar and smokeless opportunity). • New MSA funds beginning 2008. • Increased awareness/attention to prevention/wellness issues by business leaders and elected officials concerned about escalation in health care costs. • New FDA approved cessation products. • New SGR on secondhand smoke. • Introduction of new tobacco products (e.g., Camel snus, PM Taboka, UST Skoal Dry Pouches)

9. Key Opportunities for Innovation/Action • Potential impact of policy group’s activities – • Greater coverage of evidence-based cessation services (public and private programs). • Increased and sustained funding for comprehensive state programs, including quitlines, quit centers, web-based assistance, paid media campaigns. • Greater awareness of evidence-based treatment among consumers, media, policy makers, and health care professionals, particularly in the wake of a significant policy change events (e.g., tax increase, smokefree law). • These activities are all geared toward increasing awareness, demand and availability of evidence-based treatment services for all tobacco users.

10. Reaching Disparate Populations • All the action steps that have been identified will include efforts to address priority populations, including engaging organizations with existing relationships to priority populations and recognizing that tobacco use may be just one of several health, social, and/or economic issues confronting these specific population groups.

11. The End, “THE” Policy Group Linda Dianne Katie David Kay Matt Tim Pablo Tracy