California: New Legislation Would Require Health Insurance Polices to Cover Tobacco Cessation

June 29, 2010 - Senator Leland Yee of California has introduced legislation known as SB 200, which requires health insurance policies to include coverage for tobacco cessation services such as patches, nasal sprays, inhalers, gum, medications, and counseling. With this legislation, which was approved by the Assembly Health Committee last Tuesday on a bipartisan vote, California would become the eighth state to mandate health insurance coverage for tobacco cessation services. Currently there are an estimated 3.8 million smokers in California (an adult smoking rate of 14%) and an annual cost of 8.6 billion dollars in medical care and lost productivity due to this tobacco addiction. It is estimated that this new legislation would help 8,000 Californians quit smoking each year and would save the state 45 million dollars annually due to a reduction in health care costs. As Senator Yee explains, “By ensuring that health plans cover the cost of quitting, more Californians will be able to kick this bad habit, medical costs will be reduced, and most importantly, lives will be saved.”

Similar legislations have proven effective, both in terms of prevention and cost. Massachusetts’ universal health care program has covered the majority of tobacco cessation services, including counseling and medications, for Medicaid recipients since 2006. Since its implementation, Massachusetts has had an unprecedented decrease in the number of low income residents who smoke.

There is much evidence in support of this legislation and as Dr. Diane Sobkowicz, Board President of the American Heart Association, explains, “To stop this deadly habit, smokers need access to treatments that work. SB 220 could double or triple the rate of successful quit attempts by requiring that health insurers provide coverage for smoking cessation.”

The Assembly Appropriations Committee will consider this legislation before a vote by the full Assembly.

For more information please visit: http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC=%7BEFA496BC-EDC8-4E38-9CC7-68D37AC03DFF%7D&DE=%7B158030E4-BBF4-413E-893C-2D7D2469D733%7D

National Working Group for ACTTION

Partnership for Prevention

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