Healthways offers QuitNet tobacco cessation services to Wyoming residents

Oct 9 2009

Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) today announced a three-year agreement effective July 1, 2009 with the Wyoming Department of Health to offer QuitNet tobacco cessation services to Wyoming residents. The QuitNet Comprehensive program combines phone and online professional counseling, access to the largest online support network in the world and subsidized or free tobacco cessation medication.

“We’re excited because this agreement increases access to tobacco cessation services for our residents, which we are confident will result in a higher cessation rate than we have been able to achieve without it,” said Kathi Wilson, Wyoming Department of Health tobacco cessation specialist. “We have one of the most thorough tobacco cessation programs in the country, and this partnership will allow us to reach even more people with our program.”

The program is available for Wyoming residents at www.wy.quitnet.com or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

“Since 1995, QuitNet has helped over a million people around the world quit tobacco,” said Ben R. Leedle, Jr., Healthways chief executive officer. “We are pleased to team up with the Wyoming Department of Health to offer tobacco cessation support to the entire state of Wyoming. This agreement will play an important part in improving the health of Wyoming residents.”

QuitNet helps individuals quit smoking and stay tobacco-free through proven scientific methods and online and telephonic support services. Its services are built on the approaches and practices recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General: personalized content, expert counseling, social support and help selecting and using FDA-approved tobacco cessation medications.

QuitNet’s website hosts a thriving online community of tens of thousands of tobacco users and former tobacco users across the globe that supports each other with practical tips and celebrations of milestones. In addition to this global community, the website provides a suite of interactive tools and features members can use 24 hours a day, seven days per week, for as long as they need it.