Medicaid coverage of tobacco-dependence treatment for pregnant women: impact of the Affordable Care Act

Sara B McMenamin; Helen Ann Halpin; Theodore G Ganiats

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2012.06.012

Medicaid coverage of tobacco-dependence treatment for pregnant women: impact of the Affordable Care Act

Am J Prev Med. 2012 Oct;43(4):e27-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.06.012.

Authors

Sara B McMenamin¹, Helen Ann Halpin, Theodore G Ganiats

Affiliation

¹ Center for Health and Public Policy Studies, School of Public Health, University of California-Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 22992368
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.06.012

Abstract

Background: Twenty percent of pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid use tobacco products. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires Medicaid to cover tobacco-dependence treatments for pregnant women beginning in 2010.

Purpose: To summarize the impact of the ACA provisions on Medicaid coverage of tobacco-dependence treatments for pregnant women.

Methods: Medicaid programs were surveyed regarding their coverage for tobacco-dependence treatments after the ACA provisions went into effect.

Results: From 2009 to 2010, coverage for tobacco-dependence treatments increased from 43 to 51 programs covering pharmacotherapy treatments and from 30 to 38 programs covering tobacco-cessation counseling. States added additional coverage for counseling in 2011 and 2012.

Conclusions: To maximize these benefits, Medicaid programs need to conduct outreach to inform Medicaid-enrolled pregnant smokers of this coverage.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Directive Counseling / economics
Directive Counseling / methods
Female
Humans
Medicaid / economics
Medicaid / trends*
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / legislation & jurisprudence*
Pregnancy
Smoking Cessation / economics
Smoking Cessation / methods*
Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / economics
Tobacco Use Disorder / economics
Tobacco Use Disorder / rehabilitation*
United States