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Expand coverage of Tobacco Cessation Services

Massachusetts' Medicaid program, MassHealth, provides excellent coverage to help smokers and other tobacco users quit. MassHealth's smoking cessation benefit provides full coverage of FDA-approved medicines and counseling to help people quit, for as many times as it takes.

The gap exists because access to services is limited to medical providers, despite many tobacco users, especially those in the behavioral health system, have more interactions with other health care providers. TFM aims to extend tobacco cessation services within MassHealth to dentists, behavioral health providers, and others working with those most affected by tobacco.

Expanding the health providers who assist smokers and tobacco users with quitting, enhances access to cessation services and promotes health equity.

The MassHealth smoking cessation benefit was a huge success when it was introduced in Fiscal Year 2007. It's time to include all care providers, including dentists and behavioral health providers to ensure that we are reaching everyone who needs help. Closing the loophole would enable certified professionals in these fields to counsel and bill for, tobacco cessation for their MassHealth patients.

Status of this TFM priority issue

Senator Jason M. Lewis An Act to provide Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation, Senate Bill S.881

The bill was referred to the Healthcare Financing Committee on February 27, 2025. Read Tobacco Free Mass' testimony.

This bill seeks to expand access to the program by allowing trained and approved dentists and behavioral health practitioners to provide cessation counseling to patients on MassHealth, as recommended by the CDC. 

There are many factors that impact whether people smoke--and how likely they are to be able to quit.  Environment, stress, tobacco industry targeting, mental health status, and access to cessation services and medicines are some of the many factors. 

Because of these factors, adults who are insured by MassHealth are twice as likely to smoke (20.5%) than privately insured adults in Massachusetts (10%). (MA BRFSS 2019)

In 2019, the percentage of smokers insured by MassHealth who self-reported poor mental health was 37.7%. (MA BRFSS 2019)  To best reach these smokers, it's essential to let behavioral health providers provide smoking cessation services through MassHealth. 


mailing address:

Tobacco Free Mass

PO Box 1701

Provincetown, MA 02657-5701


(617) 795-4129


tobaccofreema@gmail.com

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