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MMWR Highlights—State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments —
United States, 1994–2001
May 30, 2003 / Vol. 51 / No. 21
Need for Tobacco-Dependence Treatment Among Medicaid Enrollees
- Because rates of smoking are highest among people living in poverty,
the negative health effects of tobacco use are of major concern for State
Medicaid programs.
- Medicaid recipients have approximately 50% greater smoking prevalence
than the overall U.S. population.
- In 2000, approximately 11.5 million (36%) adult Medicaid recipients
smoked cigarettes.
Extent of Coverage for Tobacco-Use Treatments In State Medicaid
Programs
- In 2001, 15 states offered no coverage for tobacco-dependence
treatment under Medicaid, and only Oregon provided coverage for all
treatment options recommended by the PHS Clinical Practice Guideline.
- The number of Medicaid programs providing some coverage for counseling
or medication increased from 34 (67%) in 2000 to 36 (71%) in 2001.
- In 2001, only 10 states offered some form of tobacco-dependence
counseling services, the primary recommendation for pregnant women.
- Only 12 (33%) state Medicaid programs that provided coverage for
tobacco-dependence treatment benefits informed their recipients that these
benefits were available to them.
- Of the 36 states that offered any coverage in 2001, all but one
covered at least one pharmacotherapy treatment (i.e., Zyban®, Wellbutrin®, buproprion sustained release, nicotine nasal spray,
nicotine inhaler, nicotine patch, or nicotine gum).
- Data show that co-payments result in decreased use of treatment;
however, 16 states required some form of patient cost sharing, that
ranged from $0.50 to $3.00 per prescription.
- According to the Public Health Service (PHS) Clinical Practice
Guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, treatment with either
counseling or medication doubles quit rates.
- The Guide to Community Preventive Services recommends reducing the
cost of tobacco-dependence treatments, especially in low-income
populations, to increase the use of treatment by smokers attempting to
quit and the number of successful quitters.
MMWR —State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments —
United States, 1994–2001
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