Fitzpatrick’s bill expands tobacco cessation coverage under Medicaid

With Medicaid enrollees smoking tobacco at twice the rate of those with private insurance, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on July 20 introduced bipartisan legislation that would expand cessation coverage under Medicaid to improve health outcomes and decrease government spending. 

“The evidence tells us that tobacco use is a grave public health threat,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said, “and we must ensure that evidence-based cessation treatments are widely accessible.”

The congressman is the lead original cosponsor of the Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act, H.R. 4775, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) to expand comprehensive Medicaid tobacco cessation coverage in every state with no cost-sharing or access barriers for beneficiaries, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“I am proud to partner with Congresswoman Blunt Rochester on this bipartisan bill that will ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries — who utilize tobacco products at a disproportionate rate — have adequate access to effective mechanisms to safely quit usage.”

If enacted, H.R. 4775 also would help states conduct outreach campaigns to educate providers and beneficiaries about Medicaid’s coverage of cessation services, the summary says.

“We know that tobacco cessation works and that expanding cessation coverage in Medicaid not only improves health outcomes but lowers the cost of what the federal government pays in health care for tobacco-related diseases,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to be joining with Rep. Fitzpatrick in a bipartisan effort to help tobacco users quit, improve health outcomes, and lower costs incurred by the federal government.” 

The measure is supported by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association.