If you are on Medicare and still smoking, this news is for you.
As part of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare will begin to pay for a variety of preventive care services on January 1, 2011, such as colerectal cancer screening, mammograms and now, tobacco cessation counseling.
Under the new provisions, smokers on Medicare will be able to take advantage of 4 evidence-based counseling sessions per quit attempt, and will be covered for two quit attempts per year, (8 counseling sessions total) if necessary. There are two levels of counseling available for ex-smokers:
- Intermediate Counseling
Face-to-face contact with a counselor for three to 10 minutes per session.
- Intensive Counseling
Face-to-face contact between patient and counselor for more than 10 minutes per session.
The type of counseling received will be decided between patient and doctor.
In the past, Medicare covered cessation counseling only after a person had been diagnosed with a smoking-related disease.
HHS Announces Medicare Expands Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Counseling -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Press Release
From the press release:
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Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States and is a major contributor to the nation's increasing medical costs. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that tobacco use causes about one of five deaths in the United States each year and that, on average, adults who use tobacco die 14 years earlier than non-users. It is estimated that between 1995 and 2015, tobacco-related diseases will cost Medicare about $800 billion.
Quit Smoking Resources:
- Quit Smoking 101
Free email course to help you quit.
- Quit Aids: Know Your Choices
An overview of the quit aids on the market today.
- Smoking Cessation Support Forum
About.com Smoking Cessation's online nicotine addiction recovery community.
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