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 is that people can only access these services through medical providers, even though many tobacco users, especially those in the behavioral health system, have more contact with other types of care providers.  Tobacco Free Mass is working to expand coverage of tobacco cessation services within MassHealth to dentists, behavioral health providers, and others who work with people most affected by tobacco.

Expanding the types of trusted health providers who can offer quitting help to smokers and tobacco users increases access to cessation services and medicines, increasing 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.