State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments—United States, 2005

November 10, 2006 / Vol. 55 / No. 44

MMWR Introduction

According to the article, "State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments—United States, 2005" released in the November 10, 2006 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), of the 41 million Americans who received health insurance coverage from state Medicaid programs in 2004, an estimated 29% were current smokers.

The article reports that in 2005, (1) 38 Medicaid programs covered some tobacco-dependence counseling or medication for all Medicaid recipients, compared with 37 in 2003; (2) an additional four states offered coverage only for pregnant women; and (3) only one state (Oregon) offered coverage for all medication and counseling treatments recommended by the 2000 U.S. Public Health Service Guideline.

Dramatic increases in coverage must occur to achieve the 2010 national health objective of increasing insurance coverage of evidence-based treatments for tobacco dependence among all 51 state Medicaid programs.