South Carolina
Quitline Profile
United States
Quitline: South Carolina Tobacco Quitline (launched August 2006)
Began Operations: September 2004
Standard Hours of Operation
Monday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Tuesday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Wednesday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Thursday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Friday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Saturday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Sunday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Closed on:
Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, 1/2 day Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, 1/2 day New Year's Eve, late open New Year's Day
Telephone Numbers
Line
Phone Number
Language/Subject
1
1-800-QUIT-NOW
English/Spanish
2
1-800-784-8669
English/Spanish
3
1-855-DEJELO-YA
Spanish
4
1-877-777-6534
Deaf/Hard of hearing
Supported Languages
Counseling offered in: English, Spanish
Third-party counseling: 
Deaf/Hard of hearing: Direct TTY machine
 
Phone Counseling
Types:
brief intervention
single-session
multi-session (client-initiated)
multi-session (counselor-initiated)
text to cell (two-way)
text to cell (one-way)
text to cell (two-way w/ counselor)
text to cell (two-way automated)
Length of standard first session: 30 min
Length of standard follow-up session: 20 min
Counseling session topics:
tobacco history
developing a quit plan
setting a quit date
withdrawal symptoms
relapse prevention
weight gain
use of cessation medication
stress management
other
Web-Based Services
quitline information
cessation information
self-help tools
automated e-mail messages
interactive counseling
chat rooms
webpages
forums
online courses
social media
AI
mobile app
Cessation Medications
Free Medications
patch
gum
lozenge
nasal spray
inhaler
varenicline
bupropion
combination NRT
Discounted Medications
patch
gum
lozenge
nasal spray
inhaler
varenicline
bupropion
combination NRT
Medication Distribution Methods
voucher
by mail
Other Services
voicemail with callbacks
recorded self-help messages
referral to other health services
mailed info or self-help resources
To receive counseling:
Coach+ sessions offered for all participants regardless of insurance status. Customized programs and/or support resources are offered for pregnant/postpartum, youth/young adults, behavioral health, Native American, and menthol users. Consent required for services and call backs.
To receive medication:
Registered and uninsured, underinsured, Medicare, Medicaid receive free NRT ranging from 2-week starter kit to 12-weeks of combo NRT products. Pregnant/breastfeeding or under 18 yrs not eligible for medication.
To receive combination therapy:
Dosed as appropriate for each participant; offered to all behavioral health participants. Not offered if pregnant, breastfeeding, or under age 18.
Additional Info:
Medicaid participants are offered a 2-week started NRT starter kit and then encouraged to see their Medicaid provider for free medications from all 7 products that are FDA-approved. SC Medicaid covers all medications for quitting with no member copay (cost sharing) or provider prior authorization required. The Medicaid cessation benefit also covers combo-therapy.
Specialized Materials
youth, under 18
youth, 18-25
older tobacco users, 55+
smokeless tobacco users
pregnant tobacco users
multiple addictions
racial/ethnic populations
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
chronic health conditions
low socioeconomic status or Medicaid
low literacy
other
mental health disorders including psychiatric conditions
Additional Info:
Youth and young adult participants are given social media and digital resources in lieu of hardcopy support materials.
Specialized Protocols
pregnant tobacco users
behavioral health
youth, under 18
Cost-Sharing Partnerships
Medicaid
Medicare
state as employer
large self-insured business
commercial insurer
other
cost-sharing contact:
Catherine Sedergren, MSPH, CHES
SC Tobacco Quitline Assistant Manager
(803) 898-1876
sedergcs@dph.sc.gov
Additional Info:
SC Medicaid Healthy Connections and SC DPH share the cost of Quitline counseling support for full-benefit Medicaid members. SC DHHS administers the Medicaid Healthy Connections program for the state and the agency reimburses SC DPH for 50% of Quitline counseling services delivered by SC DPH, which administers the state Quitline.
Fax or electronic referral program:  Yes
Person(s) eligible to refer patients:
certified or trained fax referral providers
clinicians or non-clinicians in a healthcare setting
clinicians or non-clinicians in a community-based organization
other
Available referral methods:
faxed form
e-mail or online
EMR with electronic submission
Tobacco users can be referred if they:
are thinking about quitting
indicate a readiness to quit within 30 days
are ready to make a quit attempt
are quit and seek help to stay quit
Referred patients contacted within:  Within 48 hours
Other services available to referring providers:
quitline and/or referral brochures
customized referral/consent forms
patient progress reports
customized provider feedback reports
staff training
quitline/referral program newsletter
Referral program contact:
Dr. Katy L. Wynne
SC DPH Tobacco Prevention and Control Unit
(803) 898-2285
wynnekl@dph.sc.gov
Other information:
South Carolina's provider training platform with free CMEs is http://www.helppatientsquitsc.org
Smoke-Free Laws
Workplaces: No
Bars: No
Restaurants No
Tobacco Tax Rates
Current cigarette tax rate: $0.57
Effective date: July 1, 2010
Amount of last increase: $0.50
Quitline Engagement (Source: NAQC Annual Survey - 2024)
Number of direct calls to the quitline: 13,305
Number of tobacco users receiving services: 6,578
Number of tobacco users registering for Web-based services: Not available
Number of tobacco users referred to the quitline: 8,321
Quitline Investment and Impact (Source: NAQC Annual Survey - 2024)
Amount per smoker spent on services and medications: $6.41
Amount per smoker spent on media and promotions: Not available
Promotional reach: Not available
Treatment reach: 1.43%
NAQC standard quit rate: 40.20%
NOTE: Additional quitline data is available online at www.naquitline.org/data/
Context for quitline metrics:
Funder of quitline services: SC Department of Public Health
Operator of counseling services: RVO Health
Funding source(s): State Government, Federal Government
Electronic Medical Records:
Profile last updated on October 15, 2025