USA: Legislative proposal to expand Medicaid coverage of smoking cessation treatments

Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Democrat from Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives, introduced a legislative proposal on Monday, June 22 (The Quit Because of COVID-19 Act) that would expand coverage for smoking cessation treatments to all Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The main measures of the text “The Quit Because of COVID-19 Act”

- Expand coverage to 100%, under federal medical assistance, for smoking cessation during the COVID-19 health emergency and for two years beyond. Covered benefits would include individual or group cessation counseling, as well as telephone cessation assistance and associated treatments for seven medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

- Reduce barriers to access to smoking cessation services throughout the duration of the COVID-19 health emergency;

- Fully cover the cost of awareness campaigns aimed at social security beneficiaries registered in the Medicaid program as well as prescribers involved in the treatment of tobacco addiction.

A colossal health and economic burden

This legislative proposal must be considered in light of the current health crisis and those receiving Medicaid benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations, and a growing body of evidence shows that tobacco users are at greater risk of serious complications from COVID-19.

The Medicaid population smokes more—on average, twice as much as adults with private health insurance (23.91% to 10.51%, respectively), increasing their risk of cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and other tobacco-related illnesses. Tobacco-related illnesses also account for approximately $39 billion in annual costs to Medicaid. Proponents of this legislation say it would help reduce major health disparities and save lives.

A measure that has proven itself in other states

It is true that after the State of Massachusetts[1] improved its coverage of tobacco addiction treatments with an awareness and information campaign about this coverage, smoking rates among Medicaid beneficiaries fell from 38% to 28% in two and a half years. For every dollar spent by Massachusetts on its smoking cessation benefits, 3.12 $ in health care savings were realized.

Read the proposal from Councillor Lisa Blunt Rochester (in English)

©Generation Without Tobacco

[1] https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/inclusion-de-la-lutte-contre-le-tabagisme-medicaid-usa/

©National Committee Against Smoking |