July 16, 2010 - Partnership for Prevention’s ActionToQuit program has released a comprehensive state-by-state analysis of Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation. Prepared in collaboration with the American Lung Association, Saving Lives and Money – Helping People on Medicaid Quit Tobacco provides clear guidance to states on necessary steps to provide a comprehensive cessation benefit in accordance with recommendations of the United States Public Health Service. With the recent passage of health reform (Affordable Care Act) which requires that all state Medicaid programs provide comprehensive tobacco cessation care to pregnant women, this is a unique opportunity for states to go farther and expand coverage for the entire Medicaid population.

The report will be officially released later this month at an important session of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Health Committee meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. At Partnership’s urging, this year the NCSL Health Committee is hearing an important presentation on the remarkable success of the Massachusetts Medicaid program (MassHealth) in promoting a comprehensive tobacco cessation benefit and achieving unprecedented success in reducing tobacco prevalence among the Medicaid population and, significantly, reducing tobacco related health care costs. The new Partnership-ActionToQuit report provides a roadmap of key steps states should take to provide their Medicaid population access to a comprehensive tobacco cessation benefit.

The guide can be downloaded on the ActionToQuit website, Resources section:

http://actiontoquit.org/resources/

http://actiontoquit.org/uploads/documents/Save_Lives_and_Money_Medicaid_2010.pdf