Medicaid coverage for tobacco-dependence treatments.
This paper presents an update on the availability of tobacco-dependence treatments in Medicaid benefit packages from 1998 to 2003 and discusses variation in states' approaches for addressing tobacco cessation. In 2003 thirty-seven states had coverage for at least one evidence-based treatment. Since 1998, thirteen Medicaid programs have added coverage for at least one, while five programs have expanded coverage of these treatments. Overall, the coverage increases indicate a growing awareness of the treatments' importance for the health of Medicaid recipients, although further expansions are still needed.
Halpin
Helen A
HA
Center for Health and Public Policy Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA. helenhs@berkeley.edu
Bellows
Nicole M
NM
McMenamin
Sara B
SB
D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000191:economics*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States