In 2006 Massachusetts Department of Public Health adopted a pivotal measure in conformity with which Medicaid coverage for poor residents has been expanded to include smoking cessation program, to help them get rid of smoking habit. The regulation authors suggested that some day the program would pay off and contribute to decline in statewide smoking rates.

Nevertheless, they didn’t even hope the program would bring such significant health benefits so soon.

The newest data shows considerable drop in the statewide smoking rates among low-income residents across Massachusetts. Before the introduction of the program in 2006, nearly 35 percent of poorer layer of population was smoking. In 2008 this rate dropped to 28 percent, or almost 30,000 people.

Though, the data has not been analyzed, it already became the subject of attention of anti-smoking advocates and officials. Several legislators even cited the Massachusetts data to convince state government to include similar programs in Medicaid coverage.

Illinois, Iowa and Vermont Senators have introduced bills to include smoking cessation programs for low-income Medicaid holders.

Tom Harkin Iowa Senator and author of such amendment, pending in Iowa Health Committee, stated he has been eager to persuade fellow legislators to adopt it, since the collected data demonstrated that such thorough assistance to low-income tobacco-lovers is the best method of reducing both smoking rates and costs on treating illnesses caused by smoking.

The Anti-smoking campaign, part of landmark health care law approved in Massachusetts, which compensated virtually all the costs of counseling and nicotine-replacement therapies for low-income smokers on Medicaid who are willing to kick down their smoking habit. It is worth mentioning that the few US states provide such comprehensive help for low-income smokers.

The smoking rates among Massachusetts adult enrolled in Medicaid had not dropped during the previous decade until the smoking cessation program was included in the coverage. The smoking rate among low-income Medicaid enrollees has been much higher in comparison to the nationwide level.

In accordance with present federal health care law, only pregnant women on Medicaid could be eligible to get anti-smoking assistance.

The legislation passed by the House in several weeks ago would provide more Medicaid holders with free smoking cessation programs. The Legislation is currently being considered by Senate.

In conformity with the Massachusetts regulation, poor residents on Medicaid aged 18-64 years are able to get 16 consultations and six-month supply of cessation drugs.

This program costs $6.5 million a year to the State Higher-income Medicaid enrollees are not eligible to use free pre-paid cessation plans, since state public health authorities suggest it is fair.

Massachusetts scientists have as well checked the percentage of smokers among those who are not on Medicaid, and concluded that the rate has not changed.

The statistics shows that Massachusetts is only one of six states that supply low-income Medicaid holders with smoking cessation assistance. Among other states there are Nevada, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Indiana, and Oregon.

!!! Annonce !!! Forum Marlboro.