State Medicaid Expansion Cessation Coverage and Number of Adult Smokers Enrolled in Expansion Coverage—United States, 2016

December 9, 2016 / Vol. 65 / No. 48

MMWR Highlights

Total adult smokers and newly eligible adult smokers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage, by state.

• The number of adult smokers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage ranged from 2,567 in Alaska to 618,395 in New York.
• The number of newly eligible adult smokers enrolled in this coverage ranged from 2,567 in Alaska to 291,351 in Pennsylvania.

Medicaid expansion coverage of tobacco cessation counseling treatments and medications by state.

• Of the 32 states that had expanded Medicaid eligibility through the ACA by July 31, 2016
  • Nine covered all nine cessation treatments for all Medicaid expansion enrollees (Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont).
  • Seventeen covered individual counseling for all enrollees.
  • Eleven covered group counseling for all enrollees.
  • Nineteen covered all seven FDA-approved cessation medications for all enrollees.

Barriers to Medicaid expansion coverage of tobacco cessation treatments by state.

• Of the 32 states that had expanded Medicaid eligibility through the ACA by July 31, 2016
  • Six required copayments for all enrollees to obtain at least one cessation treatment, with an additional seven requiring copayments for some enrollees.
  • Twelve required prior authorization for all enrollees to obtain at least one cessation treatment, with an additional 14 requiring prior authorization for some enrollees.