Full access
Government News
Published Online: 4 February 2005

Medicare to Cover Some Efforts To Stop Smoking

Mark MoranAuthors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 40, Number 3
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.40.3.00400006a
Medicare may expand benefits to offer coverage for smoking cessation treatments under a proposed rule issued last month.
The coverage would extend to beneficiaries who smoke and have been diagnosed with a smoking-related disease or are taking certain drugs whose metabolism is affected by tobacco use. These include insulin and medicines for high blood pressure, seizures, blood clots, and depression, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Minimal counseling is already covered at each evaluation and management visit. Beyond that, Medicare proposes to cover two cessation attempts a year. Each attempt may include a maximum of four intermediate or intensive sessions, with the total annual benefit covering up to eight sessions. Practitioners and patients may choose between intermediate or intensive cessation strategies for each attempt.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2002 that 57 percent of smokers age 65 and over reported a desire to quit.
“The evidence available fully supports the hope that seniors at risk of the diseases caused by smoking can quit, given the right assistance,” said Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “Millions of our beneficiaries have smoked for many years and are now experiencing the heart problems, lung problems, and many other often-fatal diseases that smoking can cause.”
A final decision on instituting the expanded coverage is expected by March. The proposed coverage policy and background information are posted online at<www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdraftdecisionmemo.asp?id=130>.▪

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric News
Psychiatric News
Volume 40 • Number 3 • February 4, 2005
Pages: 6

History

Published online: 4 February 2005
Published in print: February 4, 2005

Notes

Millions of beneficiaries are now experiencing life-threatening diseases related to smoking.

Authors

Affiliations

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard
Tips for downloading citations

There are no citations for this item

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share

×

As described within the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences. Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.