Coverage of Tobacco Dependence Treatments

Medicaid Coverage of Tobacco Dependence Treatments

Funded by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,2005-2008
Status: Active

Funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Grant Period:1998-2003
Status: Closed

Under the direction of Professor Helen A. Halpin,Ph.D. (formerly Helen H. Schauffler), and in cooperation with the UC Berkeley Survey Research Center, CHPPS has been tracking changes in coverage of tobacco dependence treatments by state Medicaid programs. Data were collected in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The project was funded by grants from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 1998-2003 and was continued in 2005 through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The project has also involved random sample surveys of Medicaid smokers and Medicaid primary care providers in states that offer relatively comprehensive coverage to document the quitting behaviors of smokers, the cessation practices of primary care providers and the awareness of both Medicaid smokers and providers of coverage by Medicaid of tobacco dependence treatments.

The purpose of this project is to provide comprehensive data on the availability of tobacco dependence treatments covered under the Medicaid program, with special attention to benefits defined for pregnant women. The analysis of the data is being used for tracking trends over time and will identify the key policy levers available for increasing coverage.

The findings from the 2005 Survey published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 55, No. 44:1194-1197, released on November 10, 2006.

The findings from the 2003 Survey published in Health Affairs, vol. 25, No. 2:550-556, released in March/April, 2006.

The findings from the 2002 Survey published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 53, No. 3:54-57, released on January 30, 2004.

The findings from the 2001 Survey published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 52, No. 21:496-500, released on May 30, 2003.

The findings from the 2000 Survey were published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 50, No. 44, released on November 9, 2001.(Scroll down to page 979 of the MMWR publication for the State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco Dependence Treatments -- United States, 1998 and 2000 article.)

The findings from the 1998 Survey were published in Health Affairs, vol 20, No.1, January/February 2001.

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Coverage of Tobacco Dependence Treatments in California HMOs, 1999

Funded by the Tobacco Related Disease Research Programs (TRDRP), Grant Period: July 1999 - June 2000
Status: Closed

The findings from the 1999 Survey were published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol 21, No.3, October 2001, Adoption of the AHCPR Clinical Practice Guideline for Smoking Cessation: A Survey of California HMO's.

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Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT)

RCT of Coverage of Tobacco Dependence Treatments in PPOs

Funded by the Tobacco Related Disease Research Programs (TRDRP), Grant Period: July 2000 - June 2002
Status: Closed

The overall objective of the project was to study the impact of first-dollar coverage of a comprehensive smoking cessation benefit for the 2001 benefit year for smokers enrolled in Blue Shield of California's PPO plan. The goal of the research was to define health insurance benefits that remove barriers to access to the most effective smoking cessation treatments and help smokers to quit.

RCT of Tobacco Dependence Treatments in Managed Care
Funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
Grant Period: August 1997 - January 2000
Status: Closed

For Grant Results Report in pdf format click here.

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