New Study Reveals Little Progress Made on State Medicaid Programs Offering Comprehensive Quit Smoking Treatments without Barriers

Today, the American Lung Association, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released an article in the journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report titled, “State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco Cessation Treatments and Barriers to Accessing Treatments — United States, 2018–2022.” This study shows that while comprehensive coverage to help individuals quit smoking increased from 2018 to 2022, only 20 states offered comprehensive coverage. This is a small increase from four years prior and only three states offered this coverage without barriers to access in 2022.

“Research shows that the prevalence of cigarette smoking among U.S. adults enrolled in Medicaid is higher than among adults with private insurance. Since treatments to help people quit smoking vary by state Medicaid program, it is important to track this information and work to improve coverage and remove barriers so people who are ready to quit tobacco have the support they need,” said Anne DiGiulio, director of nationwide lung health policy for the American Lung Association and lead author of the study. “Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the U.S., killing more than 480,000 people each year. It is encouraging to see more State Medicaid programs cover comprehensive treatments to help people quit smoking, however we must do more to close these gaps in care and make it easier for people to get help to quit.”

Here are several key findings from the study:

• As of December 31, 2022, all 50 states and DC covered at least one quit tobacco treatment for all people enrolled in standard Medicaid.
• During that same timeframe, 21 states covered both individual and group counseling for all people enrolled in standard Medicaid, an increase from 16 states in December 2018.
• As of December 2022, only three states (Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin) provided barrier-free coverage, an increase from two states (Kentucky and Missouri) in December 2018.

Read the full article here.