National Working Group for ACTTION

(Access to Coverage of Tobacco Treatment In Our Nation)

Partnership for Prevention

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Insurance Coverage

The CDC , U.S. Public Health Service , and the National Business Group on Health have recommended that every tobacco user have access to comprehensive, evidence-based benefits that give them the best chance to successfully quit. As defined by the CDC a comprehensive tobacco cessation benefit includes:

  • Coverage of at least four counseling sessions (individual, group, or telephone) of at least 30 minutes each.
  • Coverage of all FDA-approved prescription and over-the-counter medications.
  • Coverage of both counseling and medications for at least two quit attempts per year.
  • Elimination or minimization of co-pays or deductibles for counseling and medications.

Coverage Recommendations

  • Ensure that all insurance, managed care and employee benefit plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, contain comprehensive coverage for effective smoking cessation programs – IOM Blueprint
  • Eliminate cost and other barriers to treatment for underserved populations, particularly the uninsured and populations disproportionately affected by tobacco use – CDC Best Practices
  • Cover treatment for tobacco use under both public and private insurance, including individual, group and telephone counseling, and all FDA-approved medications – CDC Best Practices
  • Provide coverage for treatments shown to be effective in the Guideline in public and private health benefit plans – PHS Clinical Practice Guideline

In The News RSS

  1. Sep 02, 2010
    Delayed Quitters
    Read the full story
  2. Aug 30, 2010
    Expanding Coverage: Medicare Offers New Tobacco Cessation Counseling Benefit
    Read the full story
  3. Aug 27, 2010
    The E-Cigarette Debate Continues – Drug Delivery Device or Alternative to Cigarettes?
    Read the full story
  4. Aug 26, 2010
    New Cigarette Tests May Customize Quitting
    Read the full story

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Key Dates RSS

  1. November 12-13, 2010: Treating Tobacco Dependence in Mental Health Settings
  2. November 6-10, 2010: American Public Health Association Annual Meeting
  3. October 30-4, 2010: American College of Chest Physicians: Chest 2010
  4. October 28-28, 2010: Multi-State Collaborative for Health Systems Change 2010 Conference

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