Background/Purpose of Request:
Starting Dec. 1, 2022, NC Medicaid Managed Care Standard Plans and Tailored Plans will require contracted providers to implement a tobacco-free policy covering any portion of the property on which the participating provider operates that is under its control as owner or lessee, to include buildings, grounds, and vehicles.
For purposes of this policy, “tobacco product” includes any product containing tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, irrespective of whether the nicotine is tobacco-derived or synthetic, including but not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, electronic cigarettes, hookah, smoked or vaped tobacco substitutes, chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, dissolvable tobacco products, and heated tobacco products. Tobacco products do not include nicotine replacement products approved by the FDA for treatment of tobacco use and dependence.
Brunswick County Health Services’ existing tobacco policy was implemented by the Board of Health in 2007 and 2008 and currently bans combustible and smokeless tobacco products within 50’ of the building, at outlying sites, and in county vehicles. To comply with the new policy requirements, the new definition of “tobacco product” will be implemented and the front parking lot will now be included in the definition of “building and grounds” (i.e. all property owned, leased, or controlled by Brunswick County Health Services which includes outlying WIC sites. The “grounds” include property 50 feet from building, as well as the parking lot in front of Building A.) Signage on the grounds will be updated to include all forms of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
To summarize, this revised Tobacco-Free policy for Brunswick County Health Services will 1) expand the definition of tobacco products to include electronic nicotine delivery devices, and 2) expand the ban on tobacco products to include the front parking lot as well as the 50’ perimeter around building A (also including all outlying sites, vehicles, and outreach events).
This policy also supports Local Health Department Accreditation Activity 30.10.
Staff recommends approval of the policy. |